Srinagar/ Ganderbal (J-K), May 7 (ANI): National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Thursday cast his vote and said his party would do their best to facilitate talks between the Central Government and the separatists.
"The National Conference will do everything possible to be facilitators. We are not mediators. We are only facilitators to see that the Centre will talk to separatists. We come to some sort of agreement or solution which might be beneficial to India, Pakistan and people of Jammu and Kashmir," Abdullah said.
In Ganderbal, about 40 kilometers away from Srinagar, voters thronged the polling booths since 7:00 a.m. to cast their votes for a better future.
"We want to select a candidate who will raise our problems in the Parliament and rid us of our troubles," said Nazir Ahmed, a voter.
Meanwhile, defying the boycott call, a large number of men and women stood outside the polling station waiting for their turn to cast their votes.
The voters termed the poll boycott as wrong and said everybody should cast their votes.
"It is wrong to boycott the polls. They are beneficial for us. Everybody should cast their votes and elect the government," said Irfan, a voter.
Gun toting policemen stood guard at the polling stations. The security personnel frisked voters before allowing them to enter the polling station.
The All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference has asked people to stay away from voting in an attempt to re-establish their image.
The separatists have had to suffer a major setback after residents defied a boycott call given by the Hurriyat during the State Assembly polls held in November 2008 and came out in large numbers to cast their votes.
A prominent Kashmiri separatist leader, Sajjad Lone, who had given a call for poll boycott during the state elections, has decided to contest during these general elections and raise the voices of Kashmiris in Parliament. (ANI)
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