Srinagar, Aug 2: The shopkeepers/showrooms on the Boulevard, here Thursday observed complete shutdown against the street vendors, who they alleged were defaming Kashmiri handicraft. The dealers held a protest demonstration appealing the authorities to take action against streets vendors occupying footpaths and sell “fake Kashmiri handicraft” .
  Nazir Ahmad, President Boulevard Shopkeepers’ Association said: “The street vendors set up their makeshift stalls in front of our shops and showrooms. Tourist prefers to buy handicrafts items from them as they provide these articles on cheap rates.”
 “We have taken loans from banks and other institutions to start our business. But the roadside vendors take away our customers,” Ahmad said
The dealers said the street vendors by occupying the footpaths are leaving no space for the pedestrians and the tourists. “The tourists feel it awkward when they find the entire path occupied by the vendors,” he said.
  “We pay all the taxes, excise duty, electricity bill, etc and these vendors come up during evening time and open their stalls in front of our shops and showrooms.  They snatch our customers by luring them with cheap rates as customers are not aware about the inferior quality of the products,” a shopkeeper said.
 He said: “They are giving a bad name to our handicraft industry, by selling   Amritsari shawls in the name of Kashmiri shawls which not only inflicts losses to us, but also defames our Kashmiri trademark.” 
 Meanwhile, due to the strike observed by shopkeepers, tourists lodged in The Boulevard area had to return disappointed as they were not to able to shop.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 2 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 2 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 3 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST