Strike hits life in JK on Kalam's 2-day visit

Srinagar, Jul 28: Life was today crippled due to general strike on a two-day call given by breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) in protest against the visit of President A P J Abdul Kalam to Kashmir valley and Ladakh region from today.

Shops and business establishments are closed and traffic is also off the roads.

Government offices, banks and other financial institutions remained closed because of the strike called by HC and supported by a number of other separatist and militant organisations.

'' We call for a strike against your visit since you are the supreme commander of the Indian Security Forces who are commiting Human Rights violations in the valley,'' HC chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani said, but added the people of Jammu and Kashmir have nothing personal against the President.

The educational instutitons wore a deserted look as management of majority schools declared a holiday for two days for security reasons.

The Kashmir University and State Board of School Education have also cancelled their scheduled examinations for today and tomorrow because of the general strike.

A report from Baramulla said complete shut down was observed in all major towns in the north Kashmir in support of the strike call.

Similar reports were also received from other major towns of the valley.

President, Kalam during his two-day visit, is scheduled to address joint session of the Jammu and Kashmir legislature at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex on the bank of the famed Dal Lake in the afternoon as the Legislative Assembly Hall could not accommodate all the members from both the sides besides other guests.

He will become the second PresidenT to address the joint session here after Neelam Sajeeva Reddy.

He will also attend a function to mark the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court tomorrow.

At Leh, Dr Kalam is scheduled to attend a function and also address the audience in the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre and Degree college.

Dr Kalam has visited all the three regions, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, in June 2003.

He also visited the border areas of the state following the Octrober 8 devastating earthquake last year.

UNI