Jammu, Nov. 8 -- People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to provide immediate financial assistance to shopkeepers whose businesses were devastated ahead of Diwali, saying they were struggling with debt and needed urgent support to restart their livelihoods.

Speaking in Jammu, Mufti said the affected shopkeepers were small business owners who operated with borrowed capital and were already under considerable financial pressure.

"These shopkeepers are under immense pressure from various directions. They are not large-scale business owners; in fact, they operate using borrowed capital and are burdened by debt. Despite Diwali approaching, their businesses have been completely...