KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry in a special meeting on Wednesday strongly reacted to the statement of the Prime Minister of India on Kashmir.
The Kashmir Chamber termed the statement “as a futile attempt at underplaying the on-going struggle in the State”.
“To connect the 70 year old struggle for freedom and liberty of the people of this state with development and livelihood issues is indicative of the delusion that the Indian state seems to be suffering from,” statement issued by KCCI said this evening.
“The present turmoil draws sustenance from the unconditional support of all the peace-loving people of this state and cannot – by any stretch of imagination – be termed as the handiwork of a ‘handful of misguided elements’. It was sad that the Prime Minister had no words of sympathy for the innocents killed, blinded, disfigured and maimed during the past one month. The brutalities with which children, women and teenagers have been attacked have found no mention in the Prime Minister’s remarks,” the statement said.
“The reported statement of Ms Mehbooba Mufti according to which she has termed the present turmoil as ‘Halla Gulla’ was also unanimously condemned. The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry termed the statement as insensitive and inappropriate,” the statement said.
The Kashmir Chamber also expressed surprise at the statement of the Director General of Police “assuring protection to shopkeepers”.
“The statement is aimed at dividing the business community of the State. The business community, including the shopkeepers are fully supporting the on-going phase of the struggle and out rightly reject such statements and offers,” the statement added.