Conflict

Lal Chowk March: KCCI holds sit-in at Regal Chowk against ‘naked dance of human right violations’ in Kashmir

Srinagar: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday took out multiple protest marches at Raj Bagh and Regal Chowk, Srinagar. The members of the KCC&I were prevented from proceeding towards Lal Chowk and protested by sitting-in at Regal Chowk.

Despite strict restrictions, a large number of members of the Chamber participated in the protest march. The protest was led by Senior Vice President, Nasir Hamid Khan as a sign of solidarity and to collectively condemn naked dance of human right violations in Kashmir.

“The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry today joins and supports people of Kashmir Valley to observe this peaceful protest. Members including executive, affiliated associations and office bearers are present at this venue and in one voice urge all right thinking people of the world to prevent repetition of violations, which has already taken heavy toll of our people,” KCCI said in a statement.

“The business community, traders, small time vendors and others, notwithstanding stressful and worrying economic situation, support the program of peaceful protest throughout the length and breadth of the State,” the statement added.

KCCI, in the statement pointed out that these situations, there is reason to believe, are being created to retard economic activities, in particular those relating to tourism sector.

“A well thought of plan seems to be in operation to subjugate people by sheer force of power,” they said.

The members said that KCCI as a welfare organization of the business community will do it’s best to help traders, in particular, small time traders, in times of crisis.

“The need of the hour is to stand united with the members of the society who stand for justice,” they said.

KCCI stressed that every killing, every Hartal, every strike and every large scale disturbance demands and calls for the resolution of the dispute of our State.

“The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry calls upon human rights organizations, wherever they be, to report events which shake the conscience of the society and bring them to the notice of world community. Repetitive killings of our innocent people breach levels of tolerance. It is high time that the guns are silenced,” the statement said.

The statement added, “So long as there is no structured, meaningful and effective dialogue between leaders of India, Pakistan and genuine representatives of our State, we believe that the situation, more so, during ensuing winter will be far from normal.”

On it’s part, the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry will continue to support people, victims of violence, those who have been subjected to torture, prisoners, and who have suffered and continue to suffer under adverse prevailing conditions to the extent it is possible.

“The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as such, is not a political organization but least it can do is to act as voice of people.”

The Joint Resistance Leadership had called for Lal Chowk March on Tuesday against the civilian killings of Kulgam. However, strict restrictions were put in place in the commercial hub to foil the march. Yasin Malik, the Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, was detained by the cops from Lal Chowk after he tried to lead a protest.

Malik, who had evaded arrest from his Maisuma residence was detained by cops outside the Masjid-e-Ameer Hamza in the adjoining locality of Koker Bazaar.

Moreover, Jammu and Kashmir Police detained Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq after he defied his house arrest and tried to march towards Lal Chowk. A spokesperson of the amalgam said a large posse of police personnel deployed outside the Nigeen residence of Mirwaiz detained him after he defied his house arrest and tried to march towards Lal Chowk.

On Monday, the police issued an advisory, asking commuters to use an alternate route as no traffic would be allowed between Amira Kadal and Regal Chowk.

Meanwhile, high speed internet has been suspended by the authorities and reduced to 2G as aprecautionary measure. 

 

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