‘It is like rubbing salt on our wounds’
The business fraternity of Kashmir Monday asked Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to clear his party’s stand over the remarks made by Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh that only Rs 3600 crore were ‘sufficient’ for rehabilitation of flood victims.
“It is like rubbing a salt on our wounds. For last 10 months State Government is playing dilly-dallying tactics on the rehabilitation package and now Dy CM is coming up with such an unacceptable statement,” President, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Sheikh Ashiq said.Ashiq accused Bharatiya Janta Party of showing its true communal colours and adopting discriminative approach towards people of Kashmir.
“If Uttrakhand can get a package within months after a disaster, why can’t Kashmir,” he asked, adding that it was share discrimination against Kashmir where majority of the population is Muslim.
Ashiq said if center and state government would not provide financial assistance to flood affected people, it can have disastrous consequences on trade and other sectors in Valley.
“Many of our young entrepreneurs have lost their business during floods. I am afraid if our youth are pushed against the wall, it can lead to the situation of unrest here,” he said.
In an interview, Singh had said that Rs 3600 crore is “sufficient” to rebuild the damaged infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir after the devastating floods of September last year.
Yasin Khan, President of Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation and Kashmir Economic Alliance, said that Deputy Chief Minister should resign on moral grounds over his appalling comments.
“We demand the resignation of Dy CM with an immediate effect. He has played with the emotions of Kashmiri people,” Khan said.
Khan said Chief Minister should not remain silent on such grave issue and should come out with an explanation over his deputy’s remarks.
Khan said it is a gift that PDP-BJP coalition has given to traders on the completion of their 100 days in the office.
“They have failed to deliver on every front, only were busing dating Bollywood actors in Mumbai and hosting musical programs in Kashmir,” Khan said.
Khan said the package of Rs 3600 crores for rehabilitation is unacceptable and they would not agree to it.
“We will come on roads if our demands will not be fulfilled. We can’t rebuild our houses and restart our business establishments on peanuts in the name of rehabilitation,” Khan said.
