Kashmir is a dispute, resolve it once for all: KEA

Srinagar, July 23: Valley’s traders have decided to boycott the scheduled meeting with the Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is arriving in Srinagar on Saturday for a two day visit. The business community feels that while the government is defending the civilian killings there is no point in meeting the Home Minister.
Travel, trade and hospitality sector has also decided not to meet the Home Minister. The business community had received communications from the office of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir for a meeting with Rajnath Singh.
Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Secretary General Faiz Bakshi said amid unabated violence and killings, a dialogue cannot be held.
“KCCI and all traders’ bodies have decided to boycott the meeting with the home minister. In such circumstances, when unabated violence and killing (of youth) is happening, how can a dialogue take place?” questioned Bakshi.
“There is no point in meeting home minister when the government is defending the killings of innocent youth.”
Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) said they would also boycott the meeting with Home Minister.
“They are treating us like animals. They are using pellet guns on civilians maiming them for life. The death toll is mounting every day. In such circumstances, how can we meet them? They come here for political gains only. Had they been sincere they would have come here on the very first day,” said President FCIK Ashraf Mir.
Chairman Kashmir Economic Alliance Mohammad Yasin Khan said that the government of India should realize that Kashmir is a dispute and time has come to resolve it once for all.
He also pointed out that after killing of 50 people how can GoI expect a meeting.
“This is a dispute and they have to realize this. The whole world realizes that. They also have to talk to Pakistan which is a party to this dispute. What will we do by meeting them? They killed our dear ones, 50 till now, in 13 days. How can they expect us to meet them?” asked Khan.
He said government remembers Kashmir only when violence erupts. “And why do they remember us only when there is violence. This is a 70 –year-old dispute and they should realize that they have to solve it once for all,” said Khan.