Protesting flood hit-traders seek rehab, threaten to intensify stir

A faction of the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) staged a protest near the Press Enclave here today demanding suitable rehabilitation for the flood-hit businessmen.
The KTMF members led by Mohammad Sadiq Baqal carried a banner in favour of their demands and raised slogans against the government.
The protestors flayed the government for failing to rehabilitate them. They warned of dire consequences if their demands were not met at the earliest.
“Our houses, shops remained submerged in 10 to 12 feet water during (September 2014) floods. Even though we were assured of rehabilitation, we are still waiting…the government’s failure to meet our demands will have dire consequences. They (government) were quick to rehabilitate victims of Uttarakhand and Nepal tragedies, but they have different yardstick for people of Kashmir,” said Baqal.
He also objected to the government’s decision to deposit relief amount in the accounts of the flood-hit traders which has a cash credit account.
The protesters later marched towards Raj Bhawan, however, their attempt was foiled by the police.
As the KTMF faction has called for a shutdown tomorrow, Baqal urged all traders to extend full support to the call.
The other KTMF faction led by Muhammad Yasin Khan, meanwhile, stated that the body had not called for any strike tomorrow.
Khan said they were yet to take a decision on the reports that traders would not get any compensation and were awaiting the government response.
“We are yet to get any formal response from the government. We’ll seek details from Raj Bhawan about the decision over the long-pending rehabilitation of the flood-hit traders and take a decision accordingly. Let’s first get a formal ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Once the government plan is open, we will decide accordingly,” Khan said.