Northeast Delhi sees 63.83% turnout
Northeast Delhi recorded a voter turnout of 63.83, which was much ahead compared to other districts of the city.
The district, which was hit by communal clashes just two weeks after the last Assembly poll in February 2020, witnessed the highest voter turnout in Delhi among all districts with probably no sign of shadow of the riots on the voters’ mind.
“We witnessed the riots in front of us, but people have probably forgotten those terrible times and moved ahead. The current issues are development of our area, inflation and unemployment with which the people are grappling and will go and cast their vote,” 55-year-old Mohammed Saleem said while speaking to The Tribune.
He said every person wants better facilities and a bright future for their children. “We will vote for the government who works in that direction. This is a mixed population area, both communities lived happily before and will live with the same brotherhood even tomorrow,” said Saleem.
The northeast Delhi was struck by multiple waves of communal violence in February 2020 that tore apart the social fabric of the city during which 54 people were killed either by lynching, stabbing or even more brutal ways. Around 40 among the dead belonged to the minority community.
The northeast Delhi, which is also a Lok Sabha constituency, is home to an approximate 29.34 per cent Muslim population, spread in multiple areas. It comprises of 10 segments - Burari, Timarpur, Seemapuri (SC), Rohtas Nagar, Seelampur, Ghonda, Babarpur, Gokalpur (SC), Mustafabad, and Karawal Nagar. Of the 10, only three were held by the BJP (Rohtas Nagar, Ghonda and Karawal Nagar), and the remaining had AAP Members of Legislative Assembly.
A young woman named Isa Fatima said she wants to see some changes in society and she has exercised her franchise on issues like inflation and unemployment. The riots, she said, had now taken a back seat.
“It is very important for all of us to vote for a better future for our country. We need good education, better healthcare. Women’s safety should be our topmost priority,” she said.
Mohammad Wahid (38), a resident of Jaffrabad, said the unavailability of a sewer line in Seelampur was a major concern for the residents.
“Whatever happened in February 2020 was done to disturb the harmony of the area and polarise the population. We have a Hindu family living on our street. They celebrate their festivals and we also participate in them. They could have left after the riots, but they chose to stay because they feel safe here. This is not the issue now. The sewer is a big problem in the area. Sometimes, we get dirty water,” Wahid, a restaurant owner, said.
Similarly, Rehman Ali (42) also expressed concern over crime in Seelampur and Jaffrabad. “We do not have a sewer in our area, which is a major issue for every street in the locality. Apart from this, the crime rate is also increasing, which is worrying people about their children’s future,” Ali said.
Raisuddin (54), a resident of Babapur, said all issues would be resolved with a stable government. Dr Faizan Sheikh (26), a resident of Mustafabad, said the entire northeast area shares the same problems.
