Political parties can’t ignore displaced Kashmiris who can now cast their ballot easily | The Indian Express

Political parties can’t ignore displaced Kashmiris who can now cast their ballot easily | The Indian Express

Written by Reapan Tikoo |Updated: April 3, 2019 8:14:58 am

The writer, a displaced Kashmiri, works in the field of high technology research

Political parties can’t ignore displaced Kashmiris who can now cast their ballot easily

The displaced Kashmiri voter has gone from being inconsequential to consequential. She has arrived as a political stakeholder in the Kashmir Valley.

The displaced Kashmiri voter has gone from being inconsequential to consequential.

Around three decades ago, my family fled Kashmir. I have lived in exile in Jammu, Mumbai and London. I have been applying for my ballot from Kashmir, during elections. Never have I been able to vote, despite the provision being there since 1996, under Section 36A of J&K Representation of People’s Act 1957, which provides for setting up booths outside the territorial jurisdiction of the constituency.