New Delhi, May 17: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the rise in voter turnout from 14 per cent in the past to nearly 40 per cent now in the Srinagar constituency of Jammu and Kashmir is the greatest testament to the success of abrogation of Article 370.
“I would like to tell those who raise questions on the abrogation of Article 370 that the rise in the voter turnout from 14 per cent in the past to 40 per cent (in Srinagar) is the greatest testament to the success of the decision,” Amit Shah said in an exclusive conversation with news agency.
Shah said that while people in the Kashmir Valley used to shout slogans for boycotting elections, all voters of extremist groups exercised their franchise in the elections this year.
“All leaders of extremist groups voted. It does not matter to whom they vote. That is their right. But at least, they were part of the democratic process. Earlier slogans were shouted to boycott elections. Today elections were held peacefully,” the Union Minister said.
Noting that there was no instance of violence in Srinagar during the polls, Shah said, “Not even a baton was wielded. There was no instance of rigging. And voting was held patiently, with no instance of violence from any political party. This shows that change is visible.”
Amit Shah also pointed out that, compared to the usual three per cent of voter turnout among displaced Kashmiri Pandits, more than 40 percent of them voted in the Lok Sabha elections in Srinagar.
“For the first time, more than 40 per cent of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits voted in the elections. Till today, the figure had never crossed 3 per cent. This shows that people are now confident of themselves and believe in democracy,” the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader said.
The Srinagar constituency, which saw the first general election after the abrogation of Article 370 in J-K, recorded 37.99 per cent voting, according to the Information and PR Department, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This is the highest voter turnout in several decades.
The voter turnout in Srinagar was 40.94 per cent in 1996, 30.06 per cent in 1998, 11.93 per cent in 1999, 18.57 per cent in 2004, 25.55 per cent in 2009, 25.86 per cent in 2014 and 14.43 per cent in 2019.
Meanwhile, Since the model code of conduct (MCC) is in force in the country, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will not take any formal security review in Kashmir.
Top sources said that ‘since the MCC is in force in the country because of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, the Union Home Minister will not chair any formal security review meeting on Friday’.
He met various delegations of Pahari, Sikh and Gujjar/Bakarwal communities and also had detailed discussions on party affairs with BJP leaders.
He did not enjoy any official protocol during his stay in Srinagar city and only the usual security details for the Home Minister were in place.
Shah arrived here on Thursday evening. He was received by the BJP leaders at the Srinagar International Airport. The Union Home Minister drove to Lalit Grand Palace Hotel overlooking the Dal Lake in Srinagar city.
