Excelsior Correspondent
—Excelsior/Amin War
SRINAGAR, Mar 4: The traders in the Valley today shut their business units to protest against the Government in delaying their rehabilitation post-flood.
The traders gathered under the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) at Lalchowk asked the Government to devise a policy for their rehabilitation and compensation. They claimed that the Government is biased towards them.
During the September flood last year, the traders suffered losses worth billions of rupees. The Association has also called for suspension of VAT and Income Tax till traders are rehabilitated.
All the shops in the summer capital were closed due to the strike call given by the Association.
“Six months have passed since the floods hit the Valley but no steps have been taken by the Government to provide any relief to the affected traders,” KTMF, General Secretary, Bashir Ahmad Dar said. He said that it was for the first time in the history of Kashmir that city center suffered extensive losses due to the deluge.
Dar said that Government has left no option before the traders other than to protest peacefully unless their genuine demand of compensation is fulfilled. Another trader said that over 20, 000 shops were completely damaged due the flood fury in and around Lal Chowk.
Separatist leader like JKLF’s Yasin Malik, Hurriyat Conference’s Ashraf Sehrai among others were also present in the sit-in protest in solidarity with the traders.
Addressing the traders, Malik slammed them for taking to streets demanding rehabilitation. “The damages in floods did not happen due to a natural disaster but due to inaction and administrative failure so it is better to seek compensation,” Malik told traders.
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