Strike paralyses normal life in the valley

SRINAGAR: A separatists-sponsored strike to protest against Prime Minister's Manmohan Singh's statement on Kashmir paralysed normal life across the valley today.

Shops, business establishments, banks, educational institutions and semi-government institutions remained closed and traffic was off the roads in Baramulla, Bandipora, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Budgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian.

The Prime Minister, in his address to the nation on Independence day, had said the "people of all areas of Jammu and Kashmir have participated vigorously in both assembly and parliamentary elections which is a proof that there is no place for separatist thought in the state".

Taking objection to Prime Minister's statement, the hardline Hurriyat faction headed by their jailed leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani had called for protests yesterday and complete shutdown today.

"Manmohan Singh's statements does not match with his previous statements....Sometimes he speaks of its resolution through talks and sometimes he denies Kashmir's disputed status," the faction said in a statement.