Auraiya voters feel notebandi a bold step, but created trouble

AURAIYA: Farmer Ram Kripal Yadav owns three bighas of land. A traditional Samajwadi Party supporter in this SP stronghold, he, and others like him, find themselves undecided: they feel “notebandi (demonetisation)” forced them and hundreds of others to waste time in queues and face problems purchasing seeds. But they also justify demonetisation as a bold step by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Auraiya is set to vote on February 19.
In fact, farmers in Pandpur, Maidapur, Janetpur, Anajpur and adjoining areas, despite the numerous problems created by notebandi, had appreciated the move.
“The majority, including farmers of these villages, are yet to make up their minds on a candidate or a party,” said Ram Awatar, adding, “The situation in this assembly election is completely different.”
“Modiji is taking the right decisions in the public's best interests but, being traditional voters of the Samajwadi Party, we are yet to take a decision,” the villagers said.
Radha Kant, another farmer, said, “Without doubt the UP elections are known for caste- and religion-based polling, but this cannot go on for long as we want to shape the future of our youth.”
A farmer from Bhikepur said, “Farmers all across the state know that the Union government has launched a spate of schemes for their benefit but we have to see the local scenario before voting. Hum logo ke liye Vidhan Sabha aur Lok Sabha ka election alag alag hai aur ushi ke anusar vote dalte hain (We know that assembly and parliamentary elections are separate and we pick a candidate or party as per the election).”
Most people in this SP stronghold are farmers, and they have different opinions on notebandi. However, they say that this time development is the prime factor for them and that they will elect a candidate who can improve infrastructure in the area and bring it on par with the state capital, Lucknow.
A vendor selling jaggery in Auraiya said, “Akhilesh ko jitaya hamne aur metro toh Lucknow mein chalayee jaygee (We voted Akhilesh to victory but the metro is going to run in the state capital).” He asked, “Hamare liye kya hua aur hum phir se SP ko kyon vote kare (What he has done for us and why should we vote for SP again)?”