SRINAGAR Markets in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley on Wednesday presented a festive look ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations.
Reports said that thousands of people visited various marketplaces, particularly Lal Chowk, Hari Singh High Street, Batmaloo and Old Citys Jamia Masjid ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr which be celebrated on Friday or Saturday depending on the appearance of the crescent.
In Lal Chowk, the commercial hub of this summer capital, huge rush of people was witnessed outside almost all the sweets and confectionary shops. At some places push and pull scenes were witnesses as young, old, men, women and children jostled to make the purchases first.
Footwear shops, readymade garment outlets have been colorfully decorated by the traders. The huge discount announcement by the readymade garment outlets has also been an added attraction for the Eid shoppers.
While frequent traffic jams gave cops a tough time, the shopping spree brought smile on the faces of the shopkeepers.
Reports said heavy Eid rush was also received from the markets around the historic Jamia Masjid in the old city.
Shoppers complained of increase in prices of essential commodities. However, the Minster of Food and Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister claimed that checking squads conducted market inspections to curb inflating rates of commodities.
According to reports, different markets across the valley were flooded with shoppers. The busy markets of Residency Road, MA Road, and other various markets in Srinagar witnessed a huge rush of customers. In most of the markets, people were seen busy buying bakery, confectionary, dress material, kids wear and groceries. But the soaring prices of commodities left many customers high and dry.
Many shoppers, complained that price of vegetables, fruits, and other items have been arbitrarily increased manifold by traders in light of Eid.The Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs department is doing nothing to curb this problem. The claims of having constituted market checking squads seem to have fallen flat because the traders have increased prices of commodities arbitrarily, said Shabir Ahmad, a customer at LalChowk.
When contacted Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister, Muhammad Ashraf Mir, said that government have deputed many checking squad to Srinagar markets and other markets in the valley. I urge the people that if they find any trader or shopkeeper selling commodities at higher prices, they should contact us. We will take action against them, he said and added that it is very sad that we hardly receive any complaints when authorities conduct market checks. That time nobody complains about soaring prices, he claimed.
Similar reports also poured in from prominent marketplaces in north and south Kashmir where thousands of people swarmed ahead in view of the Eid.
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