Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 6: The district administration today declined permission to traders for holding a proposed programme in city centre Lal Chowk to mark the anniversary of September 2014 floods.
The traders under the banner of Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) and Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) headed by Mohammad Yasin Khan are scheduled to hold a rally in Lal Chowk and felicitate 118 persons who worked relentlessly during last year’s floods.
The traders have called for shutdown against the failure of Government to rehabilitate flood-hit Valley particularly business community. Reports said that the traders have been declined permission by the district administration to hold the programme and were suggested to change the venue.
“However, the KEA members declined Government’s suggestion and remained adamant on their programme,” they said. The KEA was suggested to shift the venue to Sher-e-Kashmir Park – which is nearly one kilometer from Lal Chowk.
The KEA chairman Mohammad Yasin Khan told Excelsior that they won’t change the venue. “We will not change the venue and we have not cancelled our programme,” he said.
Source said that the authorities apprehend that the rally might be hijacked by separatists as the KEA has reportedly invited many separatists as well. “Keeping in mind the apprehensions, they were denied permission,” the sources said.
Another faction of KEA led by Showkat Chowdhary is also scheduled to hold a protest rally at Press Enclave in Lal Chowk. When contact by Excelsior, Chowdhary said: “If Government has decided not to allow any programme in Lal Chowk, then what can we do.”
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, Amit Kumar confirmed that the Government has declined permission to traders for holding rally in Lal Chowk. “They were suggested to shift the venue which they declined. But, we won’t allow any rally in Lal Chowk,” he said.
The SSP, however, said that there won’t be “curfew-like restrictions” in city. “There won’t be restrictions in Lal Chowk or in Old City but as I said the rally won’t be allowed,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Kashmir University (KU) has suspended all the exams scheduled for Monday. A KU spokesman said that all Kashmir University examinations scheduled for September 7 are postponed. “Fresh dates will be notified separately,” he added.
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