Despite opening of a few markets in the evenings, business activity continues to remain affected ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
Two months of unrest following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani on July 8 has adversely hit business activity. While shopkeepers are hoping to recover some losses ahead of Eid, most of the businesses remain affected as “evening shopping” mostly remains confined to people buying essentials.
“No doubt, for the past two days, marketplaces have been bustling for two hours during evenings in view of the relaxation in Hurriyat calendar. However, people mostly buy essentials or at the most clothes for children. Those traders who normally had a brisk business ahead of Eid, continue to sit idle or are doing very little work,” said an owner of a bakery shop. “I will be preparing one-tenth of bakery products that I otherwise used to prepare ahead of Eid as we would be able to open shops just for a few evening hours.”
The separatists have been issuing a weekly protest calendar with a “relaxation” whereby shops would be opening in the evenings only after 6 pm prior to Eid, barring Friday.
The main business bodies, including the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries and Kashmir Economic Alliance, have already said they would be following the “Hurriyat calendar.” They have urged the Centre to hold unconditional talks with separatists. Leaders of smaller trade associations too want a “permanent solution” so that businesses do not take a hit every now and then.
“Whenever there is unrest in Kashmir, businessmen suffer the most. We are willing to go for an indefinite shutdown if a permanent solution is not found. Yes, we are suffering losses but then how can we celebrate Eid when so many youths have been killed in the past two months,” said Traders’ Federation Exhibition Road Magarmal Crossing general secretary Abdul Rauf.
Kashmir Traders’ Federation (KTF) senior leader Aijaz Shahdar too said they were following the “Hurriyat calendar” and there was no point in having loud Eid celebrations amid the ongoing unrest.
“Thousands got injured, many were blinded and 75 died. There is no reason for people to jostle for shopping and there is no point in having loud Eid celebrations,” he said.
Slump in business continues as shoppers stick to essentials
