Fair Price Shop dealers protest in Srinagar, demand authorities to revoke order

Srinagar, Dec 07 : Scores of members from All J&K Fair Price Shop Dealers Union (K) Monday staged a protest against an order issued by the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) department.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Firdous Vaid, president of the association said that the department has come up with an order, asking them to deposit the cash prior to getting ration.

“We were earlier depositing money after distributing the ration. However, the order issued by the department would certainly force them to face hardships,” Vaid said.

He added that they don’t want to protest, but by issuing an order against their aspirations has pushed them to hit the streets to press for their demands. “We have always cooperated with the department from time to time. But the department is ignoring all their issues now,” he said.

“We want this order to be revoked at an earliest. In case, the order is not revoked, we will continue our protest till our demands are not fulfilled,” he added.

Meanwhile, Director FCS&CA, Bashir Ahmad Khan told KNO that already 70 per cent of license holders are following the procedure in spirit. “This is nothing new, but a law, which is also mentioned on their license as well. Those who have got license in 2016 onwards in Kashmir are following the procedure. But, why would those who have got a license in 2003-2015 be allowed to violate the procedure,” he asked.

He said the department will take strict action against these dealers if they will not follow the procedure and would even cancel their license as well—(KNO)