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The successful completion of the 20 District Development Council (DDC) elections has signaled the resumption of the political process in Jammu & Kashmir, which came to a halt over a year ago with removal of statehood and Article 370. The large voter turnout in the said election has proved beyond doubt that people living in the troubled region are eager to embrace democratic process instead of adopting gun culture. There were apprehensions on whether the election process would be completed peacefully or not. But the brave people of Jammu & Kashmir have shown the way to beat such negativism by coming out in big numbers to vote. The elections were held in eight phases and a huge number of enthusiastic voters were seen in every phase. People’s participation in the election had sent such a strong message that no one dared to disrupt the election process. After such a wonderful triumph of democracy, it is not wise to ask which side has won the elections. The outcome of the election results clearly conveys that renewed efforts should begin at the right earnest to find an amicable solution of the vexed Kashmir issue through negotiations.
Thus, it is useless to count which side has gained control of how many district councils. It is time now for the elected representatives of these councils to devote all their energies and time for the welfare of the local populace. The newly elected representatives should work all out to usher in a fresh era of development. Because of its geographical location and hilly terrain, development work in Kashmir requires a different focus. It’s a pity that even after more than seven decades of Independence, connectivity between different places of the region is poor to say the least. Potable water is not available in many villages as well as basic healthcare facilities. The district councils should focus on ensuring these facilities are provided, so that the populace don’t feel neglected any longer. Often it has been found that paucity of funds is not the real cause for lack of development. It occurs because the people concerned are not interested in development. In this context, the people should be more vigilant and keep their representatives on their toes always.
Along with ushering in development, the most important task in Jammu & Kashmir is to start the negotiation process with those who are unhappy and disgruntled. No one should ever forget that solution is possible only through negotiations. Fighting does not achieve anything apart from death and destruction. As the democratic process has started once again, those who are not satisfied should come forward with their grievances for the redressal. On its part, the authorities should focus their time on addressing the genuine grievances of the people. By participating in the recently held DDC elections, the people of Jammu & Kashmir have made their stand clear. It is time now for the concerned leaders to reciprocate, so that the golden chance of bringing back permanent peace in Kashmir is not lost once again.