Srinagar:
Kashmiris Sunday started their Eid shopping a week before the
festival as there was no curfew in the Valley. Hardline separatist
leader Syed Ali Geelani modified his call for a shutdown Monday
and asked the people to resume normal activities in the afternoon.
In a statement here Sunday, Geelani said in view of the
Shab-e-Qadr being observed Monday night, Kashmiris must resume
their normal life from 2 p.m. onwards on Monday.
As per the earlier protest calendar issued by him as part of his
group's 'Quit Kashmir' campaign, Geelani had appealed for a
complete Valley shutdown Monday and asked the people to resume
normal activities only Sunday. A shutdown has also been announced
for Tuesday and Wednesday.
'The calendar has been modified to enable people make purchases
for the holy Shab-e-Qadr tomorrow (Monday),' Geelani said in his
statement Sunday evening.
Muslims throughout the world engage in nightlong prayers thronging
mosques during Shab-e-Qadr which is the holiest night as per the
Muslim belief.
The hardline leader had also asked people to resume normal life
Sunday to facilitate Eid shopping, which Geelani stressed should
be done with utmost austerity because of the death of 65 people in
the ongoing unrest in the Valley that started June 11.
Till late Sunday evening, almost all the markets in the Jammu and
Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar and other towns of the Valley
were abuzz with shoppers as they picked up essential items for
Eid-ul-Fitr which falls around Sep 11 after the end of the holy
month of Ramadan.
Most of the roads in Srinagar witnessed traffic jams as police
tried to regulate the movement of vehicles.
People were seen shopping and some educational institutions were
open despite it being a Sunday.
'This happens only in Kashmir. Who would believe it is a public
holiday today? Shops, other businesses, public transport and some
educational institutions are functioning here,' said Abdul Gani
Bhat, 51, a local businessman.
'Anyway, it's nice to see people going around to shop for the
coming Eid-ul-Fitr,' Bhat added.
Pavement vendors were out in strength to to sell merchandise like
woollens, garments, fruits and dates.
'One never knows whether we would be able to sell goods tomorrow
or the day after. It is better to make hay while the sun shines,'
said Mehraj-ud-Din, a fruit seller on the Residency Road.
Even poultry and mutton shops did some brisk business after almost
three months of shutdowns, curfews and protests.
The hardline separatists have been issuing protest calendars on a
weekly basis for the last three months and the authorities have
responded to these by imposing curfews and restrictions in most
parts of the Valley.
With the separatists withdrawing their protest programme for a
day, authorities did not impose curfew anywhere in the Valley
Sunday.
'This has happened after almost three months. For the last three
months, there were curfews in certain parts and restrictions in
other parts to prevent violence by stone pelting mobs here,' said
Bashir Ahmad, 58, a veterinarian.
'The magic of Eid-ul-Fitr could be seen at work everywhere in the
Valley today as the people went about their daily chores without
any fear,' he said.
Ahmad himself had come with his family form Kashmir's Ganderbal
district for Eid shopping in Srinagar.
The separatists have also appealed to the people that they should
not buy any fire crackers because of the unrest in the Valley.
'That is definitely going to deprive the children of some of their
fun this Eid. But, it is fair enough not to use fire crackers this
Eid. After all, 65 locals, including teenagers and youth, have
lost lives in the last three months,' said Ahmad.
Ahmad's 15-year old son, Wasim, did not insist on buying any fire
crackers this Eid.
'He understands the pain and suffering which is written on every
face in the valley,' Ahmad said.
Authorities did not impose any curfew or restrictions here
Saturday as well to ensure people could preparing for Eid
festivities.
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