Reports on Saturday said several trade and commerce bodies who have so far decided against meeting the home minister Rajnath Singh include Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Federation Chamber of Industry Kashmir and Kashmir Traders Federation, KHARA, KHAROF, and House Boat Owners Association.
At least two civil society groups have declined to have a meeting. They had been invited to have meetings with the visiting Home Minister. Reports said the government has flown President of Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry to Srinagar for the meeting with the Home Minister.
This is for the first time that such a large number of trade bodies have boycotted the Home Minister, a situation that did not exist even in 2010 unrest.
However, official sources said that Rajnath Singh on the first day of his Kashmir visit, met various delegations at Srinagar’s Nehru Guest House.
They said that those delegations include that of civil society groups representing various sections, tour operators, hotel industry, youths, fruit growers and Imams of Srinagar.
