M Saleem Pandit, TNN | May 11, 2011
Winds of change: Aasha Jee is the first Kashmiri Pandit woman to win the panchyat polls in a predominantly Muslim village in Kashmir's Kunzer block.
KUNZER: Aasha Jee is the first Kashmiri Pandit woman to win the panchyat polls in a predominantly Muslim village in Kashmir's Kunzer block. Aasha defeated her lone rival Sarwa Begum by 11 votes to be elected as a panch of Wusan village. Aasha won 55 votes while Sarwa got 42 votes.
Around 20 km from Srinagar, only four Pandit families currently live at Wusan. Aasha's family was one of those who stayed back when others from the community left Kashmir for militancy. Aasha (59), who lives with husband Radha Krishan and two sons, said, "Muslim brethren of the village voted for me. I will try to live up to their expectations if the state government gives powers to panchyats under 74th amendment of the Constitution."
Local revenue official Abdul Hamid Wani had encouraged Aasha to contest. "It didn't matter whether she is a Muslim or not. She is a nice person. So, we chose her," said Wani.
Her rival Sarwa Begum was gracious in defeat. "Luck played a part in the elections. I wish Aasha success and hope she will work for the village," she said. Aasha's elder son Suresh Kumar is a constable in Jammu & Kashmir police while the younger one helps his father at his village grocery shop. A proud Radha Kishan said, "She is an energetic woman and will definitely help in the village's development."
Wusan doesn't have a police post or a security force camp though Aasha is vulnerable to attacks by militants who had called for poll boycott in the state.
"My victory should send a clear message to migrant Kashmiri Pandits living in exile in other parts of the country that there is no threat to their lives in Kashmir now," she said. Her parents live in Doda, home to Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, she proudly said.
Over 2,000 sarpanch and more than 15,000 panch were elected for 15,000 constituencies across J&K," said B R Sharma, chief electoral officer. Panchayat polls in the state were held after more than a decade. The last panchayat polls were held in 2001. The state government is now contemplating elections for municipal corporations and committees in urban areas.
(Courtesy : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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