Traders observed shutdown; Demand rehabilitation

Srinagar, March 4: Amid shutdown across Valley, Kashmiri trders Wednesday staged a protest against government’s tardy approach in compensating the losses of the flood-affected traders. All the shops and business establishment remained closed through Kashmir Valley. The call for shutdown was given by Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation. Reports said that scores of traders assembled near clock-tower at Lal Chowk Srinagar and staged a peaceful sit-in there. Various separatist leaders also participated in the sit-in and demanded that traders community who like others suffered heavy losses due to flood fury last year should be rehabilitated and compensated. The protesting traders carrying placards and banners marched towards Press Enclave Srinagar while police made attempt to stop them. The traders said that the government had assured them that it would rehabilitate the affected, “but till date nothing has been done for rehabilitating us,” they said. “The traders in Lal Chowk are tax payers. Had the natural calamity not befallen us we would not have demanded any rehabilitation package,” said president KTM Muhammad Yasin Khan. He said that even after the expiry of six months, government did not made an serious effort to rehabilitate and compensate the affected. “Now government has been formed in the State and it is the right time for the government to compensate the losses of traders,” he said. The traders said that only the shopkeepers in the business hub have suffered losses to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore. They said that more than 80 percent of the shopkeepers have lost everything as they had not insured their stock, and after the floods they cannot even think of restarting their businesses without any outside help. The protesting traders threatened to intensify agitation if their demand is not met at an earliest.