Fabric comes free for flags
BILAL HUSSAIN
Srinagar: Persistent strikes and curfew might have taken a heavy toll on their business, yet the cloth merchants of the Valley on Saturday generously gave away thousands of meters of black and green fabric absolutely free to the people for flags, banners and bands. In their endeavor they had equal partners the tailors who offered their free service. To pay homage to the slain pro-freedom leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who was killed in police firing on August 11, lakhs of people today marched to Pampore. All the vehicles leading to the saffron town had green and black flags atop. Thousands of meters of fabric were used for making flags, banners, and bands. A Srinagar-based textile dealer said: “Although I was offered the price for the cloth I gave to the marchers, I did not accept it, for it was our collective cause.” Many demonstrators told Greater Kashmir that the drapers as well as the tailors did not charge for the cloth and stitching. “I stitched hundreds of flag throughout the night,” said a tailor. He said even as he was offered money by the people, “I did not accept.” A trader from Shahr-e-Khaas said: “You make profits everyday. But today it was a moment when one could not think of profits. If others can unite to block our roads, can’t we stand together to defeat their motives.” Interestingly, the painters too provided their services free. “We have two painters in our locality and they were very much willing to write banners without charging anything,” said a student protestor from Islamabad.
Srinagar: Persistent strikes and curfew might have taken a heavy toll on their business, yet the cloth merchants of the Valley on Saturday generously gave away thousands of meters of black and green fabric absolutely free to the people for flags, banners and bands. In their endeavor they had equal partners the tailors who offered their free service. To pay homage to the slain pro-freedom leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who was killed in police firing on August 11, lakhs of people today marched to Pampore. All the vehicles leading to the saffron town had green and black flags atop. Thousands of meters of fabric were used for making flags, banners, and bands. A Srinagar-based textile dealer said: “Although I was offered the price for the cloth I gave to the marchers, I did not accept it, for it was our collective cause.” Many demonstrators told Greater Kashmir that the drapers as well as the tailors did not charge for the cloth and stitching. “I stitched hundreds of flag throughout the night,” said a tailor. He said even as he was offered money by the people, “I did not accept.” A trader from Shahr-e-Khaas said: “You make profits everyday. But today it was a moment when one could not think of profits. If others can unite to block our roads, can’t we stand together to defeat their motives.” Interestingly, the painters too provided their services free. “We have two painters in our locality and they were very much willing to write banners without charging anything,” said a student protestor from Islamabad.
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