JK Owned Corporations directed to throw open outlets or ‘Face Action’
On Friday, Kashmir Handicrafts Corporation opened its showroom in Srinagar’s commercial hub Lal Chowk after directions from the state authorities to government-owned corporations to open their outlets and go back to business in the summer capital amid restrictions and resistance camp-backed shutdown.
A senior official in the office of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir said the State authorities recently issued strict directions to J&K Handicrafts (Sales and Export) Corporation, J&K Handloom Development Corporation, JKI and other government-owned business establishments to start their businesses.
The Handicrafts Corporation which deals in products like carpets, chain-stitch, Pashmina and woolen shawl, papier-machie and wood-carving works, has four showrooms in Srinagar including the one in Lal Chowk near Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower) which opened on Friday, much to the surprise of even some forces personnel on duty near the spot.
“When the entire Kashmir is shut and Lal Chowk has been caged, the government wants to give an impression that by opening a shop here, everything is normal,” said Muzaffar Hussain, a resident of The Bund here. “This sums up the government’s misplaced priorities and its confused response to the ongoing situation.”
Hussain along with a group of men was at the entrance of the lane opposite to the Ghanta Ghar.
Like elsewhere in Kashmir, the markets in Lal Chowk and its adjoining areas including the government-owned showrooms have mostly remained closed during the past 77 days of uprising in Kashmir and have opened during the “relaxation time” announced by the resistance camp through their weekly protest calendars.
Police has sealed Lal Chowk from all sides by blocking Amira Kadal Bridge from one side and placing drop-gates and concertina wire near Residency Road Crossing towards MA Road, on the other. Even the lanes connecting Ghanta Ghar road with MA Road remain sealed with drop-gates and circled concertina wire.
“When people living on The Bund are not allowed to step into Lal Chowk which is under strict vigil of police and CRPF, who will turn up for shopping at the government-owned showroom?” asked another resident of The Bund.
Sources said the office of the Divisional Commissioner recently directed the top officers of the Corporation and other government-owned business houses to start their businesses in Lal Chowk and other places by opening showrooms and other outlets.
“Even one official was threatened with suspension in case of failure to follow the government directions,” they said.
Though officials concerned resisted the directions at first citing “unfavorable situation” and that central government offices like General Post Office and UCCO Bank which have branches in Lal Chowk were closed, sources said the state authorities didn’t listen and warned of action in case of the failure to comply the directions.
“We are caught in a situation where we have become vulnerable. If we don’t follow the directions, the government will take action against us and if we go ahead with the directions, we may have to face people’s anger,” said a middle-ranking official from one of the Corporations.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Khan, didn’t respond to repeated calls and a text message from Kashmir Post for his comment.
