Hundreds of roadside vendors today defied hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's announcement to observe 'civil curfew' as they displayed their merchandise in the popular flea market in the city.
Geelani had announced a three-day 'civil curfew' to be observed, beginning with arrival of US President Barack Obama to India yesterday, but the roadside vendors decided to defy the diktat.
"We have seen enough of strikes and curfews for the past four months and now we want to feed our families. We cannot go on forever like this," a vendor, who identified himself only as Khalid
The sentiments were echoed by many of Khalid's fellow traders at the Sunday market, but would not speak on record for the fear of reprisal from separatist elements.
The defiance by vendors comes a week after an unknown group, Jammu and Kashmir Ittehadi Islami, circulated posters in the city asking the Hurriyat Conference to review its strike calendar as it was only harming economy of the valley.
Although an estimated 5000 roadside vendors set up their shop from TRC Crossing to Batamaloo every Sunday to earn a livelihood, only 20 per cent of them have decided to defy the separatist diktat.
A police spokesman said the situation across the Valley so far was peaceful. "There is no curfew or restrictions in place anywhere in the Kashmir Valley," he said.
