Political Uncertainty Worries Traders, Civil Society in J&K
Business Losses Mount, Flood Rehabilitation Stalls Amid Uncertainty
Srinagar, Jan 1, KNT: As suspense continued over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir following the fractured mandate in the 2014 Assembly elections, civil society members and representatives of the trading community voiced concern over the prolonged political deadlock.
Civil society member Shakeel Qalandar said the absence of a functional government was affecting administrative efficiency at a time when flood-hit families were awaiting a structured rehabilitation package. He maintained that governance gaps were being felt across sectors and urged political parties to bring clarity on alliance formation.
Qalandar said the devastating September floods had already strained public resources and disrupted normal life. Elections held soon after, he noted, resulted in a divided mandate that prolonged uncertainty. According to him, the single largest party should take the initiative to break the impasse or clearly state its position to prevent further public inconvenience.
President of the Kashmir Chambers of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Ashiq also expressed concern over mounting economic losses. He said the business community had endured a difficult year marked by natural calamity and political transition. He added that trade and industry required immediate policy attention and stability.
Both civil society members and traders stressed that people were more interested in restoration of governance and rehabilitation measures than in prolonged alliance negotiations. [KNT]
