Kashmiri Muslim separatist leaders who challenge India’s sovereignty over the disputed region urged a boycott of the vote, calling it an illegitimate exercise under military occupation
. Most polling stations in the Srinagar and Budgam areas of Kashmir appeared deserted, with more police, paramilitary soldiers and election staff than voters.“This is not our vote. Our vote will be on the day we’re allowed to exercise plebiscite ,” said Intizar Ahmed, a young trader in Srinagar. Another resident, Abdul Hamid, said he only voted in the hope that a Kashmiri representative in India’s Parliament will seek a resolution for the disputed region.
The election, the world’s largest democratic exercise, is seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. The campaigning has been marred by accusations, insults and unprecedented use of social media for fake news. The Election Commission said authorities had recovered 2 billion rupees from leaders, workers and supporters of various political parties in the state in the past month. They suspect the money was for buying votes.In vote-rich Uttar Pradesh state, election officials directed authorities to provide drinking water and sun shelters at polling stations to cope with the scorching summer heat, said Vekenteshwar Lu, the state’s chief electoral officer.
The report said the overall unemployment rate in India was around 6% in 2018, double the average between 2000 and 2011.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
2nd phase of voting begins in India with Kashmir in lockdownVoting began in the second phase of India's general elections Thursday amid massive security and a lockdown in parts of the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
Read more »
India votes in first phase of long polls seen as test for Prime Minister Narendra ModiIndia’s economy has continued to grow under Modi, jostling with the United Kingdom for the fifth-largest in the world
Read more »
Poll workers trek to find all of India's most remote votersThe figures involved in India's general election are staggering: 900 million voters, 83 million first-time voters, 11 million poll workers, nearly 4 million electronic voting machines, 1 million polling booths and 570 special trains for migrant labourers and security personnel.
Read more »
Patriotism Edges Out Progress As India Kicks Off World's Largest ElectionIf the 2014 elections were about hope for India’s vast swathes of unemployed youth, the 2019 elections are about fear.
Read more »
2nd phase of voting begins in India with Kashmir in lockdownVoting began in the second phase of India's general elections Thursday amid massive security and a lockdown in parts of the main city in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
Read more »
India votes in first phase of long polls seen as test for Prime Minister Narendra ModiIndia’s economy has continued to grow under Modi, jostling with the United Kingdom for the fifth-largest in the world
Read more »
UCP entered final weekend before Alberta election with eight-point lead over NDP: pollIf Kenney turns that lead into an election victory on Tuesday, Alberta would find itself almost immediately in conflict with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government and the provinces of British Columbia and Quebec over an array of issues
Read more »
Patriotism Edges Out Progress As India Kicks Off World's Largest ElectionIf the 2014 elections were about hope for India’s vast swathes of unemployed youth, the 2019 elections are about fear.
Read more »
On the road with Jason Kenney and Laureen Harper as the Alberta election enters its final leg‘There’s not enough fat on buffalo (jerky),’ Laureen Harper says. ‘It never tastes good. I compare it to kale’
Read more »