A huge crowd of Kashmiris was at Qazigund —the gateway of Kashmir Valley— on Friday morning to welcome Congress leader Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Some in the crowd carried the Congress party’s flags. The crowd lined up on both sides of the National Highway with the majestic snow-clad Pir Panjal mountain range on one side and snow-filled villages on the other. Most of the people were standing on the mounds of snow cleared from the road recently.
“We Kashmiris have surprised all and this time we are going to surprise Rahul Gandhi and Congress,” said a person from a local village. He says he has nothing to do with the politics of any political party.
He adds, “I am surprised why I am here. Everyone in our village was keen to see Rahul Gandhi. I too wanted to see him. But I was not expecting this gathering. It looks like everyone is here.”
As he was saying this, the others around him were laughing. However, one thing he missed to say was that the gathering even surprised the administration as it proved to be one of the biggest gatherings after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.
Near Qazigund toll, the Congress party had erected a makeshift platform in the middle of the road and Congress leaders addressed people from there. The party's local leaders had understood that Rahul would stop at the platform to address people after crossing Banihal tunnel.
As Rahul’s caravan crossed the tunnel, it ignored the platform and moved forward and halted after around half a km. Surprised local Congress leaders told people that the plan to address people had been shelved.
The place where Rahul halted was soon swarmed by people. Everyone was keen to see Rahul. After much delay, Rahul started to walk towards Vessu but had to call off after within 500 metres because of overcrowding. Congress leaders later called it a huge security breach and held Jammu and Kashmir Police responsible for it — the charges the J&K Police denies. Congress leaders alleged that the police were not able to keep the outer cordon.
However, for Congress workers and others who had come to join the walk, they were least bothered about security concerns. Shabir Ahmad Chechi, 45, pointed towards snow-clad Pir Pachal mountains and said his village Gulab Bagh is at the foot of the mountain. He says all villagers from Hillar and other places are in the rally.
“We want Congress to come to power. At least we expect from this party that they will restore statehood and save our land and jobs being taken away,” Chechi said.
A few meters from Chechi, young girls were waving Congress flags. One person, who identified himself as Mohammad Ajaz Bhat, said he had been a traditional voter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
“But now we have hope in Congress and once it comes to power in Delhi, it will restore statehood and maybe Article 370,” said Bhat.
Pradeep Reddy has been with Bharat Jodo Yatra from the beginning. He said the Yatra has all along witnessed a good response but gathering in Kashmir surprised him. Many people said the rally would have swelled had Rahul walked up to Vessu as per plan and addressed people at Qazigund.
