Who Is Daisy Raina, The First Kashmiri Hindu Pandit Woman To Contest In J&K Elections In 3 Decades?

For the first time in over three decades, a Kashmiri Pandit woman is set to contest in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir elections. Daisy Raina, who fled the Valley in the 1990s due to rising militancy, will represent the Republican Party of India (Athawale), a BJP ally, as she runs for the Rajpora assembly seat in Pulwama district, an area once known as a terror hotbed in South Kashmir.

In an interview with NDTV, Raina revealed that it was the local youth who urged her to enter the political fray. "The youth forced me to contest and asked me to ensure that their voice reaches the J&K Assembly. I was working here as a sarpanch, and on the side, I would meet young people, hear them out, and try to understand their problems. Our youth have been suffering despite not being guilty of anything. Young people born in Jammu and Kashmir in the 1990s have seen only bullets," she said.

The 56-year-old, who had previously held a corporate job in New Delhi, returned to Kashmir in 2020 to take part in the sarpanch elections from Trichal. Her dedication to the region and its people has been evident as she has continued to engage with locals, particularly the youth who have grown up amidst violence.

Raina told News18, "Pain for Kashmir brought me here. It doesn't matter whether I win or lose." She emphasized the importance of understanding and addressing the concerns of the youth who have witnessed violence throughout their lives. "I feel we need to speak to the youth who witnessed violence their entire childhood. They only saw bullets, hartals, and internet shutdowns. We need to ask the youth why they were lured by violence," she explained.

Raina also reflected on the communal violence of the 90s, suggesting that it was orchestrated to create division and hatred between Hindus and Muslims. Rana claims that she has received overwhelming support from the Muslim community in the region. "I have received love from the Muslim community. Youth wanted me to contest and raise their issues. Earlier, I was criticized by Hindus for my speeches, but now, they are convinced about my work," she said.

The voting for the Union Territory's 90 seats will take place in three phases between September 18 and October 1, with the counting scheduled for October 8.