JK News Today Commentary
Jammu region as a whole has made its presence felt on the democratic map . Its overwhelming participation in the first phase of the ongoing municipal polls has underlined an essential fact that when it comes to asserting the democratic rights and building the institutions of governance , all the communities and sub-regions of this region stand and vote as one . This unity in diversity is the basic strength of the region.
Many experts were astounded by the huge turn out of the voters in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch where more than 81 and 78 percent came out to exercise their franchise . They were surprised as they felt that the Muslims who are in a majority in this belt along side the Line of Control ., would heed the boycott the poll call of separatists and two political parties National Conference and PDP from the adjacent Valley to its north and Pakistan occupied Kashmir in West .
That did not happen, because the faith in the Indian democracy is paramount . At the same time they are, and they demonstrated it too yet again , that they are the equal stakeholders in building the grassroots democratic institutions of governance . They rose above their religious, political, and sub regional identities and stood in a queue united to vote for their democratic rights that have come to them with the Indian constitution . This is where the democratic rights and duties coalesce .
Jammu region spread over from the plains lying in the neighbhourhood of Punjab and mountains touching borders with Himachal Pradesh , Ladakh , Valley and Pakistan and PoK has a unity of mind and purpose . The people here know that the best guarantee to their rights and safety lies in the constitution of India where their interests are served the best.
In fact, Jammu has once again shown that their interest of democracy and their overall welfare are well guarded within the country that has stood by them through every thick and thin . The country is not seen here in the military prowess but in the soft power of reviving the democracy at the grassroots level by making the local bodies and Panchayts more powerful.
It has also served a lesson to the boycott men and women that in democracy boycotting the right to vote is akin to inflicting lifetime harm on the body politic and the individual identity alongside others. Jammu has sent a message that it counts .
