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| Frequent shutdown calls in peak tourist season irk traders | | Lets defy these calls, suggest stakeholders | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, June 28: Separatists calling for frequent shutdowns in peak tourism season in Kashmir has perturbed the tourism players and businessmen, who have not come to terms with life after September 2014 floods.
Separatists called for a shutdown twice during the last week due to which tourists present in Kashmir had to face lot of inconvenience. "We are fed up of shutdowns and stone pelting. We observe shutdown out of fear as we lack the guts to defy the separatists," said a trader.
He said shutdown called by the separatists now remains confined to Lal Chowk and adjoining areas, while the people in uptown and city outskirts hardly pay any heed towards these calls.
A travel agent while talking to Early Times said, "Strikes called by separatists perturb the tourists. Many prospective clients canceled their bookings during the last week due to frequent reports about normal life remaining disrupted."
Sources told Early Times that representatives of trader bodies and transporters have decided that they would meet the separatist leaders, including Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Hurriyat dove Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. "In fact a few people had met both of them recently but they didn't pay any heed towards their pleas," sources added.
They said businessmen are up in arms against the separatists and many of them have suggested that they need to rebel against these people who are hell bent upon ruining the ongoing tourism season. "We are already facing lot of problems. We are not in a position to bear further loss. It's unfortunate that separatists are adding to our miseries by calling for shutdowns every now and then," said a trader wishing not to be named.
Traders and other people associated with the tourism sector are hoping that they would do brisk business in coming days as annual Amarnath Yatra is all set to commence from July 2. "Pilgrims visiting the holy cave after paying obeisance visit different tourist destinations across Kashmir and arrival of pilgrims boasts the economic activity in the Valley," said a businessman.
"We have got it conveyed to the separatists that they should refrain from indulging in any misadventure. Let's hope that they (separatists) pay heed to our advice," he added.
A police official while talking to Early Times said, "As per our information separatists are under tremendous pressure from the other side to disrupt the forthcoming Yatra. They have been told to regroup their men and somehow create disturbance. Hardliners and moderate separatists have joined hands on the instructions of their bosses sitting across the Line of Control (LoC). Separatists have been told to perform or perish."
"We are keeping a close watch on the activities of separatists and have put foll proof security at place along the Amarnath Yatra route and the base camps for the pilgrims. We cannot be complacent and are keeping a close vigil over the emerging situation," the official said, adding that "Traders and other people associated with the tourism sector have got it conveyed to separatists that they should mend their ways." |
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