Srinagar: Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said that the state government allowed prayers in Jamia Masjid only after traders issued a threat to go on an indefinite strike if the prayers were not allowed in the grand mosque.
“The threat of the local traders that they would go on an indefinite shutdown is what forced the government to allow prayers today,” Omar wrote on his Twitter handle.
On Thursday shopkeepers and other businessmen from the area hit the streets and threatened to launch agitation if they were not allowed offer Friday prayers and business in the Jamia Market and adjoining areas, which remained under restrictions, particularly on every Friday for the past more than a month.
Earlier, authorities allowed the congregational Friday prayers at historic Jamia Masjid after remaining barred for six consecutive weeks.
Witnesses said that siege was lifted from the areas surrounding the mosque in downtown Srinagar today.
A large number of people offered prayers at the mosque today, they said.
The Jamia Market also came back to life as shopkeepers were allowed to do the normal business after eight weeks.
