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Voters fly in from abroad to exercise their right

Mohit Jain, who will return to Bangkok after a couple of days, said it was not just his right but also his duty to vote for the future of the country

Updated on: May 21, 2024, 06:56:04 IST
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Navi Mumbai: A number of people who are registered as voters in Navi Mumbai but live abroad turned up at polling booths on Monday, travelling all the way from their adopted countries to India to exercise their franchise.

HT Image
HT Image

Among them was Kopar Khairane resident Mohit Jain, 53, who flew in from Bangkok especially for the Lok Sabha election. Speaking after voting at the FG Naik Cpolling station, he said, “We go overseas for employment but that does not mean we forget our responsibilities towards our country. There is no point complaining later about the system not working. We have to take the initiative to vote to make it work.”

Jain, who will return to Bangkok after a couple of days, said it was not just his right but also his duty to vote for the future of the country. “We have to decide who governs us and every single vote counts. So, I made sure I was here to vote,” he said.

Salil and Supriya Dixit, residents of Sanpada, who have been residing in Singapore for the past eight years, also turned up for voting on Monday. “We came to Vashi to vote as our polling booth is located at IES school in sector 1. We are Sanpada residents, but we don’t know why our name figured here,” said Salil, adding, “But it doesn’t matter really. When we could come all the way from Singapore, what is the distance between Sanpada and Vashi? What is more important is that we exercised this right given to us by our Constitution.”

Salil said it is important for everyone to understand the value of this Constitutional right and use it for the country’s development, peace and progress. “We go out of the way for a lot of unimportant things in our life, but this is not just important for us but also the country. Hence, we decided to come over to vote,” he said.

  • G Mohiuddin Jeddy
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    G Mohiuddin Jeddy

    G. Mohiuddin Jeddy is a senior journalist with around three decades of experience across print and television. He has been with Hindustan Times for over two decades, covering Navi Mumbai, Panvel and Uran. His reporting focuses on civic affairs, politics, infrastructure, urban development, environment and other issues affecting residents. Before joining Hindustan Times, Jeddy worked with The Times of India and the Network18 Group, reporting for CNN-IBN/CNN-News18, CNBC Awaaz and IBN7/News18 India. He has chronicled Navi Mumbai’s political and urban transformation through extensive coverage of infrastructure, environmental issues, urban planning and civic administration. His public-interest reporting has highlighted civic concerns and prompted administrative action. His notable work includes breaking the “Hitler’s Cross” controversy in Kharghar and exclusive reporting on the Kenneth Haywood terror email investigation linked to the 2008 Ahmedabad blasts. Beyond the newsroom, Jeddy enjoys reading almost anything he can get his hands on—from news, current affairs and books to the occasional restaurant menu—with a keen interest in national and global politics. He also enjoys travelling to new places, exploring authentic regional cuisine at local eateries, and watching documentaries as well as crime, political, thriller and espionage films and series.Read More