Kashmir Inc willing to ‘Sacrifice’ Business for ‘Kashmir Cause’

The corporate Kashmir Tuesday condemned the “atrocities committed by forces” during the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, while vowing to strictly abide by the Hurriyat strike program without caring for the business losses for the sake of ‘Kashmir cause’. Terming it as intolerable, the business community demanded immediate ban on the use of pellet guns.
Representatives of various traders’ organizations including Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation led by President Haji Muhammad Yasin Khan and the KEA district presidents at a joint meeting unanimously resolved to support the peaceful agitation program called by the Hurriyat, a handout here said.
The traders said that in the wake of atrocities committed by the forces, Kashmir was facing worst humanitarian crises. “Kashmir is a political dispute and needs to be resolved for sustainable peace in the subcontinent,” the traders said.
The KEA district presidents of Baramulla, Shopian, Pulwama, Ganderbal, Handwara, Sopore, Tral, Islamabad, Kulgam, Bandipora, Budgam and Srinagar and the Heads of Kashmir Goods Transport & Companies Association, All Kashmir Transporters Welfare Association, Kashmir Chemists & Drugs Association, J&K Contractors’ Coordination Committee, Kashmir Floor Mills Association and Kashmir Minerals & Lessee association were present.
The meeting condemned in strong words “the atrocities unleashed on the people of Kashmir by the Mehbooba Mufti led government” terming them as intolerable to any human society.
Referring to the killing of at least 57 unarmed civilians and injuries to over 6000 others, Khan said: “Hundreds of people have lost eyesight while thousands have been badly wounded by the use of lethal pellet guns, which even Israel doesn’t use in Palestine.”
“We are willing to sacrifice our business for the cause of solution to Kashmir but the atrocities as being unleashed by the forces are intolerable,” he said.
Khan, who also heads the Kashmir Economic Alliance, said that instead of reining in them, the PDP-led government is pampering the trigger-happy forces. “The kind of support the state government is offering to Dy SP Yasir Qadri, accused for murder of an innocent Kashmiri, should serve an eye-opener that this coalition is for atrocities and supports every oppressor,” Khan said.
Taking a dig at the Chief Minister, he said it was unfortunate that Mehbooba on reaching New Delhi termed the bloodbath in Kashmir as “Halla Gulla” (commotion) only to “keep her masters in Nagpur happy.”
Referring to the recent killing of an ATM guard in Srinagar and a biker in Pulwama, Khan said there was visible design in the pattern of killings. “This is an attempt to scare the people but let the government understand that we are a resilient nation,” Khan said.
Stressing that unity was need of the hour, he asked the people to give no heed to rumours which “the agencies are spreading to create wedge.”
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Nadrendra Modi, Khan said New Delhi’s “bias against Kashmir is exposed.”
The meeting asked the people not to unnecessarily drive any vehicle during the strike period. “However, the relaxation period should be availed for shopping and other necessary work,” it said. The KTMF said the markets would strictly adhere to the relaxation calendar.
Meanwhile Khan in a separate handout condemned the continued detention of JKLF Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik and demanded his immediate release.