Apex trade bodies stay away from interlocutor meet

Kashmir prominent trade bodies stayed away from holding a dialogue with the government of India’s “special representative” Dineshwar Sharma who arrived in Srinagar on Monday.
According to local news agency KNS, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir, Houseboat Owners Association of Kashmir and Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners’ Federation “refused” to meet Sharma despite a formal invitation to them from the divisional administration.
The news agency quoted KCCI’s Javed Tenga saying that they got a telephonic call from the divisional administration on meeting Sharma.
“The KCCI decided not to meet him because earlier interlocutors proved meaningless,” he said.
FCIK president Mohammad Ashraf Mir told KNS that the traders have a “limited role” confined to economy of the state.
“Being traders, we have a limited role to play. Traders are not politicians. If there is any dialogue on economy and development of the state, we will participate. This programme is aimed at buying peace; let them talk to the people who will consider their offer,” he said.