“Move akin to lockdown, one-sided”
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 21: Kashmir traders today alleged that they were not consulted before the administration imposed restrictions in Kashmir on the operations of the shops amid a rise in COVID-19 cases and that the decision taken was one-sided.
Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF), President Muhammad Yasin Khan said that they were yesterday called in for a meeting by the Deputy Commissioner which was also attended by the SSP Srinagar and were told to follow the restriction from tomorrow.
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“Until yesterday, we were never consulted; it is being said that we will consult all the stakeholders whenever the need of imposing the restriction is felt, but yesterday they took a one-sided decision,” he said.
Earlier, keeping in view the surge in COVID-19 cases, the Govt imposed a slew of measures to arrest the spread of infection while also directing that the markets must open with 50 per cent capacity.
He said that the traders also stand for arresting the spread of the infection, but, he said, the Government has to look for other options as well and should not make the traders suffer every time such a decision is taken.
“We are also for the end of this disease, but one fails to understand that why do the traders, shopkeepers become the immediate causality of the restrictions. The PM categorically said that the lockdown is not a solution at all-we have to see it in that way,” Khan said.
The traders said that the axe always falls on them while the travellers who are reaching J&K, they said, are not even being tested. “The testing at Lower Munda, Lakhanpur even at the airport is a farce and just a formality,” the traders said.
Khan said that the apparent restrictions imposed by the Administration are akin to lockdown for the traders as well as the shopkeepers. “Divisional Commissioner said that it was not a lockdown, but for the shopkeepers who are directed to shut it is equal to lockdown for them,” Khan said.
The traders asked why can’t Government close down its offices that are operating across J&K and why it always makes the traders who are already facing a lot of issues suffer.
“While the first causality in such situation is always the traders, we are already suffering due to various other factors. We have got loans to repay along with other dues. How are we going to deal with that? Offices are open, Banks are open, why only shops,” they asked.
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