Prominent trade bodies skipped meeting with interlocutor
Srinagar,
Prominent trade bodies in the Kashmir valley stayed away from the centre’s special representative Dineshwar Sharma’s dialogue process which began today here, saying that the previous exercise of interlocutors and their reports proved futile and did not yield any outcome for Kashmir resolution.
Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI), Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), Houseboat Owners Association of Kashmir (HBOAK) and Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners’ Federation (KHAROF) refused to meet Sharma despite invitation from the divisional administration.
Javed Tenga of KCCI told KNS they got a telephone call from Divisional administration about meeting Sharma.
“KCCI decided not to meet him as earlier interlocutors were meaningless and without any outcome,” he said.
Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) President Mohammad Ashraf Mir told KNS that the traders have a “limited role” confined to economy of the state.
“Being traders, we have a limited role to play. Traders are not politicians. If there is any dialogue on economy and development of the state, we will participate. This programme is aimed at buying peace; let them talk to the people who will consider their offer,” Mir told KNS.
House boat owners association of Kashmir and Kashmir hotel and restaurant owners’ federation also did not attend their meeting with Sharma.
Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners’ Federation (KHAROF), too did not meet Sharma. A senior member of the federation told KNS that it stayed away from meeting.
The delegations which called on Sharma today included Fruit Growers association, Gujjar-Bakerwal, student association, sports federation among others.
Sharma, who kicked off his sustained dialogue process on Kashmir met over 15 delegations at Hari Niwas Palace in Gupkar after his arrival to the valley in the noon amid tight security.
Official sources told KNS that the meeting between the delegations and Sharma were fixed by the divisional administration. Sources said that Sharma will be staying in Srinagar till Nov 8 during which he will meet over 60 different delegations.
His meetings with political parties will begin from Tuesday, even as Hurriyat has rejected this dialogue process. (KNS)
