Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference leader and Member of Parliament from Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency Hasnain Masoodi Sunday decried the highway ban.

Interacting with workers and party functionaries Masoodi said, “The order will hamper the economic activity of traders. The highway is no less than an artery, it is our lifeline. It is not just the economic activity that will suffer with the ban but patients too. How can they reach hospitals? How can students and working class move to and fro?”

He added, “This is an unintelligent step. Orders like these will push the already aggravated people to the wall. Issuing such orders does not augur well for a democratic setup. We condemn it unequivocally and seek its immediate revocation.”

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament from Baramulla Muhammad Akbar Lone while commenting on the highway ban said, “The move will inadvertently hit the movement of civilian traffic on the Jammu –Srinagar Highway. The sole highway connecting Srinagar with the rest of the world already suffers from intermittent blockages due to the vagaries of weather. The order of putting restrictions on the vehicular movement if persists will put the public to undue duress.”