Traders boo FM, raise anti-govt slogans

The flood affected traders protested raised anti-government slogans and booed senior minister for shoddy relief and rescue work during a meet chaired by Union Minister of State PMO Jitendra Singh on Tuesday.
Amidst sloganeering, the angry traders at Jammu and Kashmir Bank’s event to launch J&K Special Credit-cum-Relief Camps protested and demanded a probe against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Senior NC minister and Finance Minister Abdur Rahim Rather was also booed by the angry protesters for his government’s “inconsistency”.
One of the trader from the audience interrupted Singh saying Omar government failed its people when floods ravaged the city.
“Where was Omar for first four days when children and elders were dying. There should be a probe on what Omar did during the floods. We will not beg, but die of hunger and demand a probe against Omar,” he said.
The audience including traders and bankers from across the State addressed their grievances to the BJP minister, who assured them that there will be a proper investigation into the flood rescue and relief operations.
“We are here for you. And it is your call that would be taken. It will be inquired. If we don’t do it, who else would do it,” he said.
However, it could pacify the traders, who held more protests against the government.
A section of the audience also slammed J&K Bank by alleging that it has been working only in favour of few and not people in general. “After the floods, only the powerful businessmen and traders were being taken into consideration while some traders were left out by the government”.
They also staged protest march outside the SKICC hall amidst chanting of slogans like “Down with NC government” and “Down with Rahim Rather”.
Singh said a meeting should be called between the government and the people where they could express their wishes over the distribution of relief and all.
He suggested that state government should have a session with the people to listen and address their grievances and involve representatives of civil society in distribution of relief.