Gujjars in Anantnag’s Kullar travel miles to vote for change, development

Kullar, May 25: Hundreds of Scheduled Tribe (ST) voters from the Gujjar community in Kullar, Anantnag, expressed their frustration over having to travel more than three kilometres to cast their votes. The lack of a local polling station forced these voters to walk to Kullar Payeen, where the polling booths were set up.
Many locals expressed dissatisfaction, saying that the Gujjar community’s issues have been used merely as rallying points by political parties without resulting in any tangible improvements.
One of the Gujjar voters, Kalu Poswal, said the elderly voters faced difficulties by undertaking the long journey on foot to exercise their democratic rights.
“Many elderly people in Kullar Gujjran travelled miles to reach the polling station in Kullar Payeen,” Poswal said.
Farooq Ahmad, another voter from Kullar Bala, said, “At least 900 voters had to travel over three kilometres to cast their votes at Kullar Payeen in the sixth phase of parliamentary elections for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat.”
Kullar Payeen, being the main area with voting booths, has become a central point for many voters from surrounding regions. The situation is becoming increasingly problematic, according to the local community members, who are hopeful that their participation in the elections will bring about much-needed changes.
“It is getting worse day by day. We are expecting a change. We believe that this vote will bring a change in every aspect,” Ahmad added. (KNO)