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Shops open in Lal Chowk despite closure order

MAJID NABI. Dated: 11/21/2017 12:06:11 PM

SRINAGAR, Nov 20: Shops and business establishments which were supposed to be closed following a recent government order remained open in Lal Chowk and its adjacent areas.
Pertinent to mention here that Labour and Employment Department (L&ED) last week issued a notification fixing weekly close days for all kinds of shops and establishments in the city areas.
As Monday was fixed close for shops in Lal Chowk and its surrounding areas, business community citing poor business reasons due to the prevailing situation in Kashmir did not pay heed to the government order and went on to routine dealings.
“We failed to understand as to why government wants us to be at loggerheads with it, business in Kashmir valley is almost zero now this dictatorial order has fell like a virtual bombshell on business community, how do things work in such circumstances,” said Mohammad Iqbal a shopkeeper at Abi Guzar market.
He said government instead of issuing dictatorial orders should work on promoting business in Kashmir so that the people associated with trade overcome the losses they have suffered all these years.
“We will not close our shops at any cost as we cannot see our family hungry. This is anti people order aimed at crushing the already feeble economy of Kashmir valley. We have already said that a massive agitation will be launched in case the government failed to revoke this order immediately,” he added.
He said 2104 floods and past years six months long agitation have already broken back of business community which is not in position to even give thought to the order modifying SRO-472 of 1981.
“We are yet to overcome the losses we suffered when floods wrecked havoc far and wide in the valley in 2014 and then 2016 agitation again shattered us, how could government expects its order to implemented that too by traders,” said he.
Chairman Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), Mohammad Yasin Khan said “we vehemently opposed the government move and have taken up the issue with concerned minister who assured us to give considerable thought to this matter and keep the operation in abeyance for some time”.
KEA Chairman expressed gratitude to the government for giving thought to the view point of the business community.
Meanwhile Senior Vice President, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and industries, Nasir Hamid Khan said important meeting was held with Finance Minister, Haseeb Drabu in this regard at Civil Secretariat Jammu.
“The view point of KCCI was put forth before Finance Minister and after hectic deliberation over the issue; the Minister concerned assured that our viewpoint will be given a positive and appropriate response by the state government and all stake holders would be taken on board while formulating any police matter,” Khan said in a statement issued here.
He said the Minister would consider the demand of KCCI vis-à-vis keeping operation of SRO-472 in abeyance for some time.