Art 35-A row, ban on JeI: Valleys traders, transporters call for shutdown today

Srinagar, Mar 4: Days after the Government of India banned Jamaat-e-Islami and approved the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Ordinance, the Valley traders and transporters on Monday called for a complete shutdown on Tuesday to protests against the moves.
Addressing a joint press conference, Kashmir Traders Manufacturing Federation (KTMF), Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) and Transporters said a complete protest strike will be observed across the Valley on Tuesday to protest against the recent moves by the government.
KTMF and KEA president, Muhammad Yasin Khan said the space to protests against anti-people move has been choked in the Valley, thus forcing the traders and transporters to call for a protest here.
He termed the ban on Jamaat as ‘unfortunate’, saying the ban must be revoked at an earliest.
Khan added traders are on the verge to shut their businesses in Kashmir due to the frequent decision being taken by the government that according to them have pushed the situation at dangerous level.
“Jamaat-e-Islami is a religious organization and the Falah-e-Aam trusts are providing benefits to the downtrodden community here,” he said, adding banning the organization is unfortunate and its ban must be revoked at n earliest.
Khan said the organization played a pivotal during 2005 earthquake and 2014 floods here, adding that people affiliated with the organization helped people in every aspect.
Khan said, “Our wards are aspiring to get Islamic knowledge and closing the schools run by Falaah-e-Aam institutions would deprive them from getting the religious education.”
He said that situation that has been created in Jammu and Kashmir has hit the tourism sector and trade in the Valley. “The government is claiming to have taken steps to bring peace here but such situations won’t end the hostility in the Valley,” he said.
Khan said traders instead of observing shutdown would have preferred to stage protest to express resentment but the space to show concern has been chocked here, therefore compelling the trade bodies to go for a strike.
The other leaders present on the occasion lashed out a national media channels, saying that these channels have wreaked havoc and “unfortunately, it has been observed that those unnecessary issues being raised in TV debates are coming up as government order on other day,” the traders said.
They blamed TV channels for the present prevailing situation across India especially Kashmir, saying it is because of these TV channels the situation has become bad to worse.
Trade bodies said that national media channels have literally waged war against Kashmiris.
Grand Mufti supports shutdown call
The new Grand Mufti, Nasir-ul-Islam has extended full support to the shutdown call, given by valley traders, saying he is extending a full support to the shutdown call against the ban of religious organizations and other developments.
“Ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and recent amendment by Government of India is unfortunate, therefore we support the call given by Valley traders against such moves,” he told KNS.
Anjuman Shari Shian extends support to shutdown call
Anjuman Shari Shian president and senior separatist leader Aga Syed Hasan Almosvi Alsafvi also extended support to the shutdown call.
Aga Hassan said that Anjuman Shari Shian has fully extended its support to the shutdown call given by Valley traders against ban on religious organizations and recent Ordinance passed by Government of India. (With inputs from KNS)