‘Nothing new’ for some

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar/Tarn Taran, May 19

Despite the ECI urging people to come out in large numbers to use their democratic right, there were many who went about their chores as usual.

The general disinterest of the voters in the election process left the supporters of political parties worried who resorted to door-to-door contact to bring people to polling booths. At least two elderly persons, aged above 100, were spotted by this correspondent at Chinna Bidhi Chand, a border village in Tarn Taran district.

Pritam Kaur, who claims to be above 100, when questioned about whom she would vote for, replied, “Jihnu marji pva lao. (Whosoever you want).” A nonagenarian, Jagtar Singh, of the same village had a complaint. “Kise ne aje tak meri pension nai lai. (Nobody has arranged old-age pension for me so far).” Regarding what he thinks are the real issues, he said, “Foi fayada nai. (It is of no use).”

Rural folks complained that politicians had completely ignored their concerns. A farmer, Harwant Singh, who was seen ploughing his fields near Khasa, said, “Elections bring only trouble for people. The social fabric is damaged to such an extent that a supporter of a particular party will not invite or visit social functions organised by a supporter of the opposite party.”

En route Sarai Amanat Khan, four labourers were seen broadcasting decomposed cow-dung manure in fields. One of them, Sonu, said, “If any political leader from our village insists, we will go to vote. Nowadays, politicians make tall promises which are impossible to fulfill.”

Astonishingly, a number of fields witnessed stubble burning as the entire administrative machinery was busy in the election process.