‘We were not provided stalls’
New Delhi, Nov 19, CNS:While some Kashmiri traders alleged that Jammu Kashmir Handicrafts Department didn’t provide them stalls at Pragati Maidan New Delhi others are claiming that demonetization has badly hit their business as there are no crowds and no cash.
India International Trade Fair started in Pragati Maidan New Delhi few days back. Some traders alleged that Handicrafts Department didn’t provide them any stalls at JK Pavilion while others said that bribe was demanded from them for the same purpose. The owners of ‘Agaz Shawl Embroidery’ and ‘Zanoon Kashmir Arts’ told news agency CNS that they were cheated by the Handicrafts departments. “The Department persuaded us to participate in the trade fair but here we were not provided any stalls,” they said and claimed that some officials from the department demanded bribe from them.
Refuting the charges, a top official from Handicrafts Department said that those who didn’t get stalls were in waiting list. “We didn’t demand any bribe from any trader,” he said.
Meanwhile, the demonetization row has badly hit the Kashmiri traders who have erected stalls in the Pragati Maidan. “People these day’s who spend much time in queues outside banks and ATM’s have little time for other stuff, like visiting JK Pavilion. “It’s only window shopping this year as people are cashless and don’t purchase the stuff from stalls,” said a Kashmiri trader. “We don’t want to go home empty handed so we have decided to accept old notes. We will deposit them in Jammu Kashmir Bank,” he said adding that they are not expecting a boom in sales this time. (CNS)