“The political parties have totally ignored women,” Zahida, a college student in Srinagar, is disappointed as first assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370.
“Leave male candidates, even women contestants are not given much importance to grave issues such as domestic violence, rape, harassment against women at workplaces and streets. So far, we have not seen any candidates discussing these issues in rallies in Srinagar,” said another student, Mehak.
Jammu and Kashmir, a region known for its intricate political and social dynamics, is witnessing its first assembly polls in a decade. The last Assembly elections were held in 2014, and since then, the political landscape has undergone significant changes. While enthusiasm for democratic exercise has gripped the Union Territory, there is a wave of dismay among women in Kashmir and the reason is election manifestos devoid of women issues despite female voters constituting nearly half of the total proportion of voters.
In Srinagar district, the number of women voters are more than men in eight assembly segments. In the first two phases of J & K polls, there are only 15 women candidates fielded by different political parties.
“it is unfortunate that political parties, particularly regional parties, ignored women safety issues in their manifestos. Like other states of India, Kashmir is also witnessing rising cases of crimes against women. The present manifestos fail to outline concrete measures for tackling violence, harassment, and discrimination, it shows women’s safety and their well-being are not priorities in our political landscape,” women’s rights activist, member women mediator from commonwealth Ezabir Ali said.
“Offering free rides in public transport does not claim safety and security for women in the valley,” Ezabir added.
The major political parties vying for power in Jammu and Kashmir—Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and various regional groups—have all unveiled their manifestos. Each party presents its own vision for the future of the valley, aiming to capture the support of the electorate with distinct promises and policy proposals.
How NC, PDP, BJP, Congress other regional parties missed the mark on women issues
All major parties share a common thread in manifestos, a focus on high-profile issues such as the restoration of Article 370, autonomy, statehood, and the revocation of the Public Safety Act (PSA). While these are undeniably significant topics for the region’s future, what turns out to be damp squib, is the absence of women’s issues.
