Bagtore, Gurez: Hundreds of young Gurezi men have served in the Army as porters, but their homeland in northern Kashmir has remained largely ignored, with access to water, roads, and employment still limited. But a new road project connecting Gurez to Drass and Kargil has rekindled hopes for change among the people.
The Gurez assembly constituency in Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a triangular contest this election, featuring Bharatiya Janata Party candidate and one-time MLA Faqeer Muhammad Khan, three-time National Conference MLA Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi), and Democratic Progressive Azad Party’s Nisar Ahmad Lone.
While the BJP ran a focused campaign in Gurez on the back of the new road project, hoping to win its first seat in Kashmir, all candidates had prominent leaders throwing weight behind them. The three parties have promised voters development, employment, and a “mosque twice as big as Babri Masjid”. And it is anyone’s guess who will get the mandate of the Gurezis.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
Also Read: In Kashmir’s Gurez valley, BJP bets big on winning ‘Wazir vs Faqir’ battle as Gurezis seek ‘justice’
