BILAL HUSSAIN
In a significant development here the business fraternity in Kashmir valley prefers to talk about ‘gross human rights violation’ over financial losses they have been suffering from past three months of unrest on Monday in a meet with the all-party 39-member team from New Delhi.
Most of the representatives of the commerce, trade, and industrial bodies told Kashmir Times that they are least worried about the business losses suffered by them however, they are concern over hundred killings of people in Kashmir by the police and paramilitary troopers since June this year.
The President, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Nazir Ahmad Dar told KT that he appraised the all-party team from New Delhi about the killings of innocent Kashmiris and demanded investigation through an impartial agency and guilty ‘security personnel’ be punished.
The KKCI has handed over a memorandum to the all-party team wherein they seek ‘Kashmir problem needs to be solved in all seriousness in its historic perspective. It needs to be emphasized that a symptomatic treatment is simply not the option.’ The memorandum also mentions, “Process leading to de-militarization of state needs to be started at once. Black laws like AFPSA, Disturbed Area Act & PSA need to be revoked at once. The rhetoric of zero degree tolerance of human rights violations need to be translated into a reality on ground.”
The business community has turned down any kind of economic compensation. The President, Federation Chamber of Industry Kashmir (FCIK), Shakeel Qalander who also met the all-party team echoed the similar concerns and while briefing delegation said, “We don’t ask for economic packages and loss compensation. All we want is an end to perpetual spree of killing especially our youth. We demanded constitution of Truth and Reconciliatory Commission for inquiry into the recent killings to book the culprits.”
He also said, “Our youth is in no way ready to acceptable security forces in every nook and corner of the valley. They don’t want to see forces any more here. Remove forces from all major towns and city immediately,” he said. “Release political prisoners, including the children,” he demanded.
President, Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers' Federation (KTMF), Mohammad Sadiq Baqal while sharing his views said police and CRPF disowned curfew passes and invitation letters issued by the authorities at many places. “We faced lots of hurdles on the way to SKICC,” he lamented. “The innocent killing should be immediately stopped. Kashmir dispute is a 63 years long pending issue and should be addressed through political solution in accordance to the aspiration of Kashmiri people,” he voiced.
President, Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHARA) Siraj Ahmad told KT that they have formed an umbrella body which includes many other trade bodies in the valley. “We collectively condemn over hundred innocent killings by troopers and demand justices,” he adds.
In an annoyed note he said that they where promised of 30 minutes meting but all of a sudden they winded it in 15 minutes. “We were asked to leave,” he said.
He also termed the meeting as a move to ‘hoodwink the world community’. “They are misleading their own people,” Siraj added.
“History stands as witness that non-resolution of this problem has played havoc with the economy of the state & made it to incur colossal losses. It needs no mention that this state is bestowed with tremendous natural resources and if such resources are properly exploited then the state will be most economically advanced & prosperous one. Take for example the water resources of the State which have been used to the detriment of the State through Indus water Treaty of 1960,” President KCCI said.
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