EMN
DIMAPUR, APRIL 10
INDIAN youths from the northeast region living in the country’s metropolitan cities are making sure that the NE community is not left out of important democratic traditions and political exercises such as the electoral process. In the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, youths from the north eastern states living in the “mainland” are stepping out with their voters’ cards to vote for leaders they believe are capable to lead the country.
Currently, social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Google+ are awash with photographs of multi-colored-haired students flaunting their marked index fingers, or posing with their voters’ card.
“This sends out a very strong message that in spite of the travails undergone by north easterners, we are still positive and want to be part of society in a constructive manner,” explains an enthusiastic status on Facebook by a young northeastern student called Maivio J Woba.
“(I have) Voted. I am so happy to see many NE folks voting today and happy to hear from every corner of Delhi that large number of NE folks came out to vote today. Please mobilize / encourage your brothers, sisters, friends and everyone to vote… so that politicians have to listen to us. This is beginning of assertion of NE power in Delhi,” the student says in his creakily written status.
While there are youths who are willing to be a part of the electoral process – and assertion that they are also contributors to nation building – there are still some lighter moments to it all though. For instance, few youths are actually aware of who the candidates from, say, Delhi, are.
For instance another person, Shelley Vekhe voted too, but it may have flown over his head. “I’ve voted too, but a bit confusing because we don’t know the candidate”, the beleaguered friend of Woba explains.
Nonetheless, it is understood that a considerable population of northeastern Indians living in Delhi came out in droves to exercise their franchise although they have suffered discrimination and even violence from other Indian communities over the recent past.
According to Woba’s information, people who didn’t get their cards this time or who have not registered, there would be more registration camps in some NE-people populated colonies soon. The chief electoral officer of Delhi has agreed for such camps, he says.
The Delhi state assembly election is also soon to be held.
(IANS adds) In the meantime voters – the young and not-so-young as well – have taken to the social media across India, flaunting their inked finger as proof of exercise of their democratic right and are urging others to vote.
Pictures of inked finger, with accompanying messages like “my vote, my pride”, “best thing I have done as an Indian citizen” are being posted on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook as the national capital and several other states went to the polls in the third phase of the nine-phase elections Thursday.
Even hash tags such as #InkedForChange, #MyIndiaMyVote and #LSpolls are trending on Twitter.
“Koi bhi desh perfect nai hota, use perfect banana padta hai’ (no country is perfect, it takes effort to make it perfect) … Did my bit to make India perfect,” Kevin posted on twitter with a picture.
Another twitter user Anshul Bharadwaj wrote: “This is more meaningful than any other tattoo. Vote for change.”
Ankit Sinha, a PR professional, took to Facebook to urge people to vote.
“It’s time to change the nation. So please vote,” Sinha posted.
Shravan Gupta, 60, who cast his vote at the Krishna Nagar polling booth in east Delhi, was seen smilingly flaunting his index finger on his son Kuldeep’s Facebook page.
“I voted for stability. That’s what we need most,” Gupta said.
And there are others who hope their vote will help bring a change in the country.
“My first time vote and I hope my vote counts,” Priya Sharma said.
Urging fellow citizens to be responsible voters, Jyoti Sharma tweeted:
