Pahalgam (Jammu and Kashmir), tourists are often seen jostling with each other to take them for pony rides at this resort in South Kashmir, but on Saturday the pony riders decided to keep the visitors waiting .
He was to vote for the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir in the sixth round of the seven-phase general elections.
"I left my horses to graze and went to cast my vote because it is my right," said Muzaffa Ahmed, a pony rider. He said others also took time out to exercise their franchise because it was "so necessary in a democracy".
Ponywalas stood in queues at polling booths to exercise their franchise, even though tourist hub Pahalgam was bustling with visitors.Some people rode horses to the booth early to vote and went back to work.
Ahmed said, "We can earn our livelihood any day but we do not get this opportunity (to vote every day). We should not waste this opportunity. Earning our livelihood can wait but voting not for." He said that voting is important to ensure development.,
“We have to vote to elect our representative who can work to solve your issues and bring development,” he said.
Mohammed Rafiq, another pony rider, said some tourists wanted to take a pony ride in the morning but "we preferred to vote instead". "Today we cannot let this opportunity go. Tourists will come again and we will earn again but it is our duty (to vote)," he said.
Rafiq said that employment is the main issue for the youth in this election. “We have many other issues, we want tourism to increase, we want to increase employment opportunities.,
"The people of Kashmir face many issues...these need to be resolved. We want a representative who can truly represent us. The poor are always neglected. We are the face of the people of Kashmir Because we interact directly with tourists." We want someone who can bring change for the better,” said Rameez Ahmed, another ponywala.In Kulgam, an elderly man came to the polling booth riding on a horse.
The man proudly showed off his inked finger and said, "I can barely pray but I have come on a horse to vote because I won't waste my vote."
“We did what was our duty and now it is up to the elected representatives to fulfill their responsibility,” he said. He said that people face many issues like lack of development and increasing unemployment.
Some people even stayed away from the electoral process saying that there was no benefit.A local tea seller in Pahalgam said, "There is no use of voting. People who are elected do not work for the people. They only care about themselves. Our issues remain unresolved."
He was to vote for the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir in the sixth round of the seven-phase general elections.
"I left my horses to graze and went to cast my vote because it is my right," said Muzaffa Ahmed, a pony rider. He said others also took time out to exercise their franchise because it was "so necessary in a democracy".
Ponywalas stood in queues at polling booths to exercise their franchise, even though tourist hub Pahalgam was bustling with visitors.Some people rode horses to the booth early to vote and went back to work.
Ahmed said, "We can earn our livelihood any day but we do not get this opportunity (to vote every day). We should not waste this opportunity. Earning our livelihood can wait but voting not for." He said that voting is important to ensure development.,
“We have to vote to elect our representative who can work to solve your issues and bring development,” he said.
Mohammed Rafiq, another pony rider, said some tourists wanted to take a pony ride in the morning but "we preferred to vote instead". "Today we cannot let this opportunity go. Tourists will come again and we will earn again but it is our duty (to vote)," he said.
Rafiq said that employment is the main issue for the youth in this election. “We have many other issues, we want tourism to increase, we want to increase employment opportunities.,
"The people of Kashmir face many issues...these need to be resolved. We want a representative who can truly represent us. The poor are always neglected. We are the face of the people of Kashmir Because we interact directly with tourists." We want someone who can bring change for the better,” said Rameez Ahmed, another ponywala.In Kulgam, an elderly man came to the polling booth riding on a horse.
The man proudly showed off his inked finger and said, "I can barely pray but I have come on a horse to vote because I won't waste my vote."
“We did what was our duty and now it is up to the elected representatives to fulfill their responsibility,” he said. He said that people face many issues like lack of development and increasing unemployment.
Some people even stayed away from the electoral process saying that there was no benefit.A local tea seller in Pahalgam said, "There is no use of voting. People who are elected do not work for the people. They only care about themselves. Our issues remain unresolved."
