KOLKATA: The shawl-walas from Kashmir, who arrive in Kolkata at the onset of every winter, are now worried about the situation in Kashmir. While they do not anticipate any worsening of Bengal's relationship with the Kashmiris, they are afraid of a prolonged lull in tourism once again.
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Imtiyaz Reshi, a shawl-wala from Srinagar, came to Kolkata for the first time nearly two decades ago. He used to visit Salt Lake neighbourhoods with stacks of shawls on his cycle. Over the years, his client base in the city increased, and Reshi was happy with his income. He rented a shop in Salt Lake and started keeping garments and handicrafts from Kashmir there.
The attack on the tourists has devastated him. Reshi, now in Srinagar, does not know when the situation will be normal again. "We are not worried about any change in the attitude of the people of Kolkata towards the Kashmiris. They have always loved us, and we have built a bond of trust with them. But we are extremely disturbed by the attacks on the tourists. They were our guests," said Reshi.
"In Srinagar, the private cab drivers have started providing free services to the tourists. Tourism is our bread and butter, and the locals are trying to do whatever they can to restore the confidence of the people," said Reshi.