While the situation in Kashmir might not look promising on the surface, private businesses have continued to operate with over 10000 new vehicles registered in Kashmir post Article 370 abrogation.
According to a senior official in the state’s transport department, over 10,000 vehicles have been registered in Kashmir valley alone till the end of November post abrogation of the erstwhile state’s special status and bifurcation into two union territories.
“This includes the number of two-wheelers and light motor vehicles. Most of the new vehicles have been registered in north Kashmir districts like Kupwara, Bandipora and Baramulla,” the official said, wishing not to be named.
This is in stark contrast with the situation on ground as markets continue to remain shut during daytime, even though public transport has resumed fully and full normalcy has returned to some parts of the Valley.
In the ongoing winter session of the parliament, the Centre has said that daytime restrictions have been removed from all areas of the Valley. However nighttime restrictions are imposed in some parts, including downtown Srinagar to prevent any law and order problem.
The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry said on Thursday that the Valley alone has suffered Rs 15000 crore losses in the past four months of lockdown, according to conservative estimates. The business conglomerate said it will come out with a comprehensive report on the losses suffered by businesses in Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir is currently under President's rule. The assembly of the erstwhile state was dissolved on November 2018 after the ruling coalition between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) fell apart in June 2018.
The Valley has remained under lockdown for nearly four months since the abrogation of the Article 370 by the BJP-led Centre and a sweeping crackdown on not just militants but even mainstream parties like National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party with former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti under detention.
An array of political leaders, businessmen, lawyers, activists and others have also been confined to Srinagar’s MLA hostel which has been declared as a sub-jail by the UT administration. While some leaders have been released after signing a bond declaring that they will not make any political statements, some of these leaders, according to reports, were allowed to make brief visits to their homes while some may be released as well.