Ram Krishan, a 92-year-old social worker from Nagri tehsil of Kathua district, is set to make it to the history books as one of the oldest candidates contesting Municipal polls in Jammu and Kashmir.
Under pressure from the local villagers he decided to throw his hat in the poll arena to deliver justice to the poor people. While doing so, Ram Krishan, a veteran of many local elections, also defied diktat of top brass of National Conference.
Both National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party had earlier announced poll boycott over the issue of Article 35-A.
Ram Krishan has already filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate from ward no 13 of Nagri- Parole Municipal committee in Kathua. "I was not keen on fighting these municipal committee elections but when large number of people came to see me and requested me to represent them to ensure their welfare i was left with no choice either," Ram Krishan told reporters in Nagri after submitting his nomination papers.
He said, "poor people were still deprived of real benefits of various welfare schemes on ground zero".
He said, "the elected members of the municipal committees in the previous term siphoned off their money by taking hefty share in the grants".
He claimed, "i want to teach a lesson to all those people who took 20,000-25,000 commission before releasing their grants".
When asked whether he can win these elections at this age he told reporters, "i am not worried about the poll outcome. I am not stepping out to seek votes. People know me very well as I am engaged in social work for over six decades in the area".
He said, "my supporters told me villagers want me to become chairman of the Municipal committee in the area so that i can empower them and deliver justice to the real beneficiary".
When asked whether he is facing any health issues, Ram Krishan claimed, "i am fighting fit". "My people and supporters motivate me to carry on". He said, "recently when i went to see an eye specialist he told me i am alright, there is no defect in my eye".
Tracking his long journey in the social life Ram Krishan said, "i am associated with the National Conference since the days of Sheikh Mohd Abdullah. He gave us the ownership rights by introducing land reforms in 1950". He appealed to the union government to provide job opportunities to the children of poor people to ensure their welfare. "We cannot afford to educate our children beyond class 10th due to poverty and lack of awareness. If the governments are keen on improving our plight and empower us at the grass roots level they must provide better job opportunities to our children to improve our living standards",he added.