Traders, civil society reject Centre's relief package

Representatives of trade, tourism and civil society here today unanimously rejected the package of Rs 2,437 crore announced by the Centre for reconstruction and rehabilitation of flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir, saying it is a "humiliation" for the people of the state.
"We were pursuing the package for the last 10 months and the Centre had promised us that they will prioritize addressing our concern.
"However, there is nothing for us in this package. The announcement is shocking and we reject the package. It is a humiliation for the people," Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) president, Ashiq Hussain Sheikh told reporters here.

Sheikh was addressing reporters at a joint press conference of various trade and tourism bodies, as well as representatives of the civil society.
He said the package had left the people, especially the business fraternity, "dejected".
"We feel dejected. If our genuine concerns are not addressed, we are heading towards economic disaster," he said.

President, Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA), Mohammad Yaseen Khan, said the Centre was "rubbing salt on the wounds of the Kashmiri people".
"We don't understand what sin are they punishing us for? We had made a loss estimate of Rs one lakh crore, but the state government submitted a proposal of Rs 44,000 crore. Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) had promised to release the package soon. But this is rubbing salt on our wounds," Khan said.

He said the ruling PDP had entered into the alliance with the BJP on the pretext of getting required funds from the Centre, but the party has failed to do so.
He asked the PDP to break away from the coalition to protest what he called was "joke of the decade".
"They should part ways from the BJP. All the MLAs should resign to protest this joke of the decade. They should join us in demanding a comprehensive package," Khan said.