Shutdown being observed in IoK against Indian election

SRINAGAR: A complete shutter down strike is being observed in In occupied Kashmir (IoK) on the first phase of the Indian general election as well as atrocities against the Kashmiri people and their leadership.

According to the Kashmir Media Service, the call for strike has been given by the Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Gillani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik.

The shutdown is also being observed against the closure of Kashmir’s main highway for civilians and recent attack by Indian police and forces on inmates in Srinagar Central Jail.

Indians began voting on Thursday in the first phase of a mammoth general election, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi gunning for a second term.

Voting in the first of seven rounds is being held in 91 parliament constituencies across 20 states and federally administered regions. There are 543 seats at stake.

The main opposition Congress party, which wrested three major farming states from the BJP in December by promising to waive the outstanding loans of distressed farmers, has looked for allies among regional parties to defeat the BJP over its record on the economy.

Spread over 39 days, the final phase of the election will be held on May 19, and the result will be announced on May 23.