Srinagar: Authorities continued to impose restrictions on the second consecutive day on Saturday in Srinagar areas falling under the jurisdiction of five police stations while the business across the Valley remained shut on the Goods and Service Tax (GST) issue.
Restrictions under section 144 CrPc were imposed in the Srinagar areas falling under the jurisdiction of five Police Stations including Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, M.R.Gunj, Safakadal.
Witnesses said that a large contingent of forces was deployed in Srinagar areas to thwart any possible protest against GST implementation in the state.
The forces had also erected concertina wires on the roads to halt the vehicular movement in the restriction bound areas.
The blockage of the Srinagar roads also resulted in the huge traffic mess, which resulted in the immense hardships to the commuters.
Meanwhile, all the shops and the business establishments remained closed while the vehicular movement was thin on the roads in Kashmir as the Valley trade bodies including both the factions of Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF), Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) and transporters had called for the protests and shutdown today to press the government over their demands.
The Valley traders including the mainstream opposition political parties have raised objections with regard to the implementation of the GST in the state, saying that the law would infringe the special status of JK, which they term as unacceptable to the people of Kashmir.
However, the government has claimed that the ‘special status won’t be diluted in any case’.
The state government has also called for a special session from July 4 to July 8 where the GST Bill will be debated and is expected to be passed.
The trade bodies today held sit-in today at the commercial hub Lal Chowk against the implementation of GST. (KNS)
