Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, May 20: First-time voters in north Kashmir on Monday said they have voted for employment and lowering electricity bills.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) at different polling stations, first-time voters said that the graph of unemployment in J&K is rising with each passing day, and there is a need for an employment package for J&K.
Muzamil Ahmad, a first-time voter at Ichgam Budgam who has pursued a master’s from Kashmir University, said that around 11 lakh youth are unemployed in J&K and he voted so that unemployed youth like him can get employment.
“Poor people have been suffering due to inflation and frequent increases in electricity tariffs, and whosoever wins must work on lowering the electricity fee,” he said.
Abbas Ahmad, another first-time voter at Sheikh Pora Budgam, echoed the same sentiment, saying he voted for development and employment. “I have voted so that our employment, resources, and other things will be kept for local residents only and so that the unemployment rate may go down,” he said.
A PhD scholar after voting at Chondpora Budgam said that J&K has numerous issues like unemployment, and he has voted for the first time so that the voice of J&K can reach Parliament.
Other first-time voters also said that they voted because they are unemployed despite having degrees, and they hope that their concerns will reach Parliament.
“We are hopeful that our candidates will stand up to our expectations and raise ground situations instead of misleading Parliament,” they said—(KNO)
