Peace in Air: In a first, Serpentine lines outside I-Day venue in Sgr, locals jubilant
Happy to participate in function without going through much security hassles, say participants
Srinagar: For the first time after so many decades, long queues were seen outside the entry points of the main venue of Independence Day function in Srinagar—Bakshi Stadium with participants showing great interest to be part of the event.
Photo by Basit Zargar
Women, children and elderly were seen waiting in long queues outside the entry points of Bakshi Stadium to make their entry inside the Stadium to be part of the 77th Independence Day. Eye-witnesses said that since 8 am, people assembled outside the I-Day venue and started queuing up to make their entry inside the venue.
“We have come for the first time as there are very less security hassles this time around. We are happy to see the parade and listen to the speech of LG sahib,” a group of women told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
They said that without any fear they also brought their children along. “Since atmosphere is peaceful in Kashmir as peace is quite visible in the air, one can’t stop to be part of the I-Day function,” said Lubna, a young woman from Hyderpora area of Srinagar.
Abdur Rashid Khan, a resident of Srinagar, said that after listening to the recent statements of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bhiduri and DGP Dilbagh Singh that people can participate in the I-Day function without any fear, he decided to give it a chance. “I reached Bakshi stadium at 8:15 am and saw long queues. I decided to be part of the queue to make early entry as queues were swelling with every minute,” he said.
Officials told KNO that it was for the first time that such a huge participation of locals was seen in the I-Day event in Srinagar. “This indicates change in atmosphere and the peace prevailing in the Valley,” he said.