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| Hustle & bustle missing in Lal Chowk as roadside vendors forced to attend PDP rally | | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, July 28: The usual hustle and bustle in some of the areas in Lal Chowk, city centre of Srinagar, summer capital of the state was missing today and the reason for the same was the rally of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
'Makkah' market also known as market of second hand goods wore a deserted look today as no vendor was present there. Since there were no sellers in the market the purchasers too were not available. The hand carts and kiosks on which the vendors sell their merchandise were turned upside down.
Sources told Early Times that the vendors at this market were asked by their 'boss' to attend the PDP rally held at the municipal park also known as Sher-i-Kashmir Park. Stern instructions were attend to them to attend the rally failing which they would not be allowed to set up kiosks or stalls in the market exclusively meant for them.
"Most of the vendors selling their merchandise in the 'Makkah' market belong to Lal Chowk and adjoining areas. The President of Vendors Association was asked by local legislator to arrange for a good gathering from his side during the PDP rally. It was due to this reason that there was no vendor in the Makkah market today," said sources.
Sources said that this is not for the first time that such a thing has happened as in the past roadside vendors took part in programmes organized by PDP or for that matter National Conference. They said the roadside vendors along with their family members have over the years turned out to be a vote bank for the mainstream parties in Kashmir.
"In May this year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the valley some of the roadside vendors were hired by PDP to take part in the function held that time at SKICC on the banks of world famous Dal Lake. Same thing was done earlier in November 2015 when Prime Minister addressed a public rally at the cricket stadium here," said sources.
Sources said that despite being reprimanded by separatist elements time and again, the roadside vendors have over the years being attending the rallies and other functions of mainstream parties. The attendance of these people is more in programmes organized by the party that is in power at that particular point of time.
It would be in place to mention here that on the occasion of its 19th foundation day PDP organized a rally today and hundreds of party activists took part in the rally. PDP President and former chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti along with other party leaders including Muzaffar Hussain Beigh were present in the rally. |
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