Business community Saturday staged a protest against anti-trade and anti-people policies here in Kashmir capital Srinagar. A large number of traders affiliated with Kashmir Traders Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) assembled at Kokarbazar area of Srinagar city and carried out a peaceful pro-freedom procession. The protesting traders carried placards and banners seeking permanent solution to Kashmir problem, revocation of Goods Service Tax (GST). They also castigated the state government for adopting indulgent approach with regard to the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act (Sarfaesi Act).Police however, didn’t allow these protesting traders to march towards city centre Lal Chowk.
They were stopped and some of them were arrested. Earlier, Bashir Ahmed Rather, the president KTMF told CNS that trader’s community will never allow government to create separate Pandit settlements here in Valley. “Pandits are welcome here but we will not allow them to settle in separate ghettos,” he said and demanded release of political prisoners.He said that they oppose the implementation of GST as it will erode the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Rather alleged that the successive governments in Jammu and Kashmir have adopted anti-traders policies that has pushed the Kashmir economy to wall. (CNS)