Jammu & Kashmir government splashes advertisements to urge people to shun shutdown

The protest and boycott by drivers are taking place despite no such call issued by Hurriyat or any other political party.

A man reads a newspaper carrying advertisements against the ongoing shutdown in Srinagar on Friday, October 11, 2019.

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday splashed full-page advertisements in local newspapers to dissuade people from the ongoing shutdown and boycott by drivers of public transport companies.

The government appeal reads: “Closed shops, no public transport, who benefits? For over 70 years now, the people of J&K have been misled. We are at the crossroads today. Do we permit the age-old tactics of threats and coercion to influence us? Are we going to succumb to militants?”

The widely-circulated plea comes on a day when Kashmir entered 69th day of shutdown after the Centre’s move on August 5 to revoke special status.

In an unusual mode of registering their protest, most markets in the Valley open for just couple of hours in the morning and start rolling down shutters by 9 a.m. Only the flea market in Lal Chowk has been functioning, under multi-layer security.

Around 50,000 vehicles registered as public transport in the Valley remain in yards. Government employees and staff of educational institutes are using private vehicles to reach their destinations.

The shutdown and the boycott by the drivers are taking place despite no such call issued by the separatist Hurriyat or any other political party, as was the case in 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2016 when the State was embroiled in months of street protests on separate issues.

Congress leader Salman Soz said, “The government advertisements bust the myth of normalcy. Just a few days back, the Indian embassy in Washington put out this:‘all is well.’”.

Iltija Mufti, daughter of Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti, said, “Notice the pleading tone of the State administration. Despite the brutal lockdown, Kashmiris have been resolute about a civil curfew as a mark of protest.”

Sons meet Omar

Meanwhile, the authorities allowed the two sons of National Conference vice-president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to meet their incarcerated father at the Hari Niwas sub-jail in Srinagar on Friday.

Sources said Zahir 20, and Zamir 22, met Mr. Abdullah for over two hours, first time since August 5. Sources privy to the development said it was “an emotional reunion” for the trio after remaining cut off for 60 days.