Life was today affected in Kashmir valley due to a strike called by the separatists against the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Jammu, to inaugurate the tunnel on Srinagar-Jammu national highway. However, majority vendors had put up their stall at the famous ‘Sunday Market’ in the heart of the city, though the number of customers was very less due to strike. Thousands of students today appeared in national level JEE main in the valley. Shops and business establishments, which remain open on Sundays, were closed and traffic was off the roads in this summer capital and other major towns and tehsil headquarters in the valley.
Both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), spearheading the agitation, while demanding the ‘right to self-determination,’ called for a general strike today, when Mr Modi will dedicate about 31 km-long Chenani-Nashri tunnel, longest on the highway, linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country. Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads in Srinagar. However, private vehicles were playing on almost all routes, including in the downtown and Shehar-e-Kashmir
The Sunday market was open and hundreds of vendors, selling from a simple needle to carpet and electronic gadgets, have put up their stall.
However, there were hardly any buyers in the market, which otherwise attracts thousands of customers from different parts of the valley. Though majority shops and business establishments remained closed in the SeK and downtown besides outskirts, but roadside vendors were seen selling vegetable and fruit. The situation in the uptown was no different with shops and business establishments remaining closed and traffic remaining off the roads. Life was also affected in this and other major towns and tehsil headquarters in north Kashmir, a report from Baramulla said. Business and other activities were affected and transport was off the roads. However, additional security forces and state police personnel had been deployed to prevent any law and order problem.
Majority of shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads in this and other major south Kashmir towns, a report from Anantnag said. However, private vehicles were plying on some routes, the report said. Similar reports were received from central Kashmir districts of Badgam and Ganderbal.
Life affected in Kashmir due to strike on PM’s visit
