Kashmiris are traditionally given to rumour mongering andthen believing in rumours without any attempt to verify these! During recentyears of turmoil the rumours have had a free flow in Kashmir. Many a time theseresult in very piquant situations. In earlier times many rumours used toemanate from Zaina Kadal, an important bridge on the River Jhelum in the heartof Srinagar. Khabar-i-Zaina Kadal, news from Zaina Kadal is a very well-knownepithet about rumours circulating in the city. It said that some time back ascholar had come from abroad and he wanted to test the psychological attributesof Kashmiris before preaching his philosophy. He floated a rumour that “it hashappened” at Zaina Kadal. The entire city rushed towards Zaina Kadal and waitedfor the scholar to disclose what had happened. When all had gathered, heannounced in the evening “a spit had been thrown in the River”!
Kashmiris are by nature very inquisitive and always try tofind out basis of any happening anywhere. This process gives rise to manyrumours. Interestingly, the most popular jaunt for spread of all rumours andexchange of news is the baker’s shop in the morning. Kashmiris are fond ofeating freshly baked bread in the morning with the traditional salt tea. Thebaker starts making the bread from very early in the morning sometimes rightfrom six o’clock or so. The people have to wait for their turn to collect thebread. This is the time for exchange of news. The discussions at the bakersshop are very lively and interesting. If news or a rumour is to be circulatedthroughout the valley, the ideal place is the baker’s shop. The people listento the stories given out at the shop and then on their return circulate itamong relatives and friends through mobile phones and these days through socialmedia!
Recently, the rumour mill had a full run. It was churning atfull speed and a lot of panic was created everywhere. The main cause was theinduction of 100 additional companies of the Central Reserve Police Force. Thishad followed the gruesome event of the suicide bombing of a CRPF convoy inwhich almost 50 soldiers had been killed. Simultaneously, a large number ofarrests of members of the Islamic organisations and pro-freedom partiesincluding Yasin Malik, the head of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front weremade. Border Security Force replaced CRPF in guarding vital installations. Alarge number of new bunkers were made at different vintage points including onbridges, crossings and so on.
Before the suicide attack, there was another topic which wasgiving full throttle to the rumour mill. That was the controversy about Article35-A which gives special status to the State of J&K in the Indian Union.This special status granted to J & K under the Constitution vide Article370 and 35-A has been under challenge in the Supreme Court of India through aPublic Interest Litigation. The BJP had declared that they will abolish thesearticles in order to fully integrate the state of J & K into the IndianUnion. The Court has been hearing the petition off and on. No final verdict hascome so far. The induction of additional force w3as accompanied by directionsfor alerting Medical and Civil supplies Departments for clearing stocks ofprovisions and putting all hospitals on alert. People got so panicky thateveryone was rushing to stock supplies.
The State Governor denied that anything is being done toArticle 35-A. According to him this can only be done with the concurrence of anelected assembly. Interestingly, the Dogras of Jammu forming part of BJP seemto be keener for abolishing the special status. It is an irony that the specialstatus comprising the State Subject Law was enacted by the erstwhile DograMaharaja Hari Singh in 1927. He did not do it for Kashmiri Muslims! He lovedall his state subjects and was scared that due to their poverty they will facethe onslaught of the rich from the mainland and get displaced. It is notagainst anybody but a safeguard for the residents of J & K State fromexploitation by outsiders. Even Dogras if they get fully assimilated in themainland will surely lose their unique identity!
Well, the actual reason for this virtual “Red Alert” came tobe known only on Tuesday, the 26th February morning when announcement was madethat the Indian Airforce had crossed the Line of Control to destroy somemilitant training camps! At the time of writing, one is waiting for thePakistani response. Let us hope good sense prevails and there is no escalationwhich would be disastrous not only for the State and the Sub-Continent butentire South Asia and the rest of the world!
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