A hanibariya adda (Saturday rendezvous) programme for senior citizens laid stress on the importance of voting in a democracy.
“Voting is the ultimate merry mantra. Assam’s citizens should welcome the world’s largest democratic exercise and use their franchise with high spirits,” senior citizen Makhan Sharma, a writer of children’s storybooks and founder member of Doomdooma Jyestha Nagrik Manch, said on Saturday.
Sharma was addressing a packed gathering at the Asam Sahitya Sabha building here in Tinsukia district.
“Although the democratic system has a thousand drawbacks, it is a thousand times better than any other ruling system. You, the voters, have the power to choose your favourite candidate and to dethrone unexpected leaders or parties. So, on poll day you all should go to the polling stations and cast your vote,” Sharma said.
Arjun Barua, publicity secretary of Tinsukia district Senior Citizens’ Forum, said, “Senior voters also have to wait for a long time in the queues for casting their vote which is difficult for them as most of them suffer from age related ailments. Yet, they must not refrain from casting their vote,” he said.
“Democracy is like a garland and people are like its precious beads, so each and every person including men, women, senior citizens and youths should vote and elect their favourite candidate,” he said.
Brahmanand Goswami, president of Pragjyotishpur Senior Citizens’ Association, said, “Only democracy can take Assam forward. So all of us should cast our votes to choose the most honest candidate without any pride or prejudice.”
The first phase of the Lok Sabha elections will take place on April 11. The five constituencies that will go to the polls in the first phase are Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Tezpur and Kaliabor.
Doomdooma and Sadia fall under Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency while Tinsukia, Digboi and Margherita fall under Dibrugarh Lok Sabha constituency.
Later, a children’s book called Bhrami Phura Harair Hadhu was released at the programme.
Makhan Sharma Manoj Kumar Ojha