PAHALGAM (JK): It’s a common sight in this south Kashmir resort town as ponywallahs jostle and jostle to pick up tourists for pony rides, but on Saturday they decided to make tourists wait.
They had to cast their vote in the Anantnag-Rajouri Assembly constituency in Jammu and Kashmir in the sixth round of the seven-phase general elections.
“I took my horse out to pasture and went to vote as it is my right,” said Muzaffar Ahmed from Ponywala, adding that others also took time out to exercise their right because “the right to vote is very important in a democracy.”
In the tourist hub of Pahalgam, tourists were swarming but ponywallahs queued up at polling stations to exercise their franchise. Some even hurried to the polling stations on horseback to get back to work. “We can always earn a living but not every day we get this chance (to vote). We should not squander this chance. Earning a livelihood can wait but voting cannot wait,” Ahmed said. Voting was important to ensure development, he added.
“We must vote to choose representatives who will address our problems and work to bring about development,” he said.
Another ponywallah, Mohammed Rafiq, said some tourists wanted to go for pony rides in the morning but “we wanted to vote instead.” “We couldn’t miss this chance today. Tourists will come again and we will earn again but this (to vote) is our duty,” he said.
Rafiq said jobs was a key issue for young people in this election. “We have many other issues. We want tourism to thrive and we also want more employment opportunities,” he said.
“Kashmiri people are facing a lot of problems. These need to be resolved. We want a representative who can truly represent us. The poor are always ignored. We are the face of Kashmiri people as we interact directly with tourists. So, we want someone who can bring about a change for the better,” said Rameez Ahmed, another ponywallah.
In Kulgam, an elderly man came to his polling station on horseback.
“I can barely say a prayer, but I came riding my horse to vote because I don’t want my vote to go to waste,” the man said, proudly showing off his tattooed fingers.
“We have done our duty. Now it is the turn of our elected representatives to take responsibility,” he said, adding that people are facing several problems including slow development and rising unemployment.
Some people stayed away from election campaigning because they saw no benefit in it.
“There is no benefit to voting. Those who are elected are not working for the people. They only think about themselves. Our problems remain unresolved,” said a local tea seller from Pahalgam.
Published May 25, 2024 17:21 IST
