Call for Jammu Bandh on September 22
JAMMU: Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCC&I) president, Arun Gupta on Monday urged the Jammu and Kashmir Government to protect local trade and business in Jammu region, while stating that opening of over 100 Reliance retail outlets in Jammu would hit local trade in the region badly.
Notably, JCC&I has given a bandh call on September 22 against the opening of over 100 Reliance outlets. Gupta stated that the call has been given with a view that the decisions being taken by the UT administration not only hit the trade body badly but the general public as well.
“People of Jammu always stood against Article 370 and Article 35-A for the purposes of J&K’s integration with the Union of India, but several decisions announced and implemented in the last two years have hit the trade in Jammu region more severely than ever before,” Gupta told KNS.
Questioning the implementation of passenger tax in Jammu and Kashmir, Gupta said that if passenger tax is not imposed in any other state or union territory of the country, why it has been imposed in J&K only.
Terming the opening of Reliance trade outlets, a big blow to trade and employment in the Jammu region, Gupta demanded immediate roll back of the decision.
He also raised several questions on new liquor trade policy and sand mining policy of J&K Government, and said that trade in Jammu and Kashmir has become a casualty and more so in Jammu region after August 5, 2019 decisions of the central government on the erstwhile J&K state.
Gupta said that till J&K remains a UT the disturbances in trade and other public activities would continue to haunt the people of J&K in one way or the other.
Stating that early restoration of statehood is a must for the smooth functioning of trade and business in J&K, Gupta also demanded early restoration of statehood which he says is mother of all solutions to growing public woes in the UT.
Barring BJP, All Parties Support Jammu Bandh Call
Barring ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), almost every political party of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday extended their support for the Bandh Call given by trader’s body on September 22 against the setting up of 100 retail outlets by Reliance company in Jammu alone.
National Conference announced its support to the Jammu Bandh called by the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCC&I) against the alleged “anti-trade and commerce moves of the administration.”
“National Conference has all along stood for safeguarding the interests of Jammu and Kashmir and will continue so with a sense of commitment,” NC spokesperson said in a statement.
The spokesman said that he hope that the administration will see reason in its anti-business and anti-poor policies.
Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party leadership also extended full support and solidarity with the traders saying the move will only “break back bone of poor business class of Dogras.”
“Opening of 100 retail stores in Jammu province alone by Reliance amounts to high cheating of small traders and self employed educated youth,” the JKNPP said.
Apni Party, Provincial President, Jammu, Manjit Singh also extended support to the Jammu bandh call.
In a statement to the press, Manjit Singh said that Apni Party extends support to the demands of Jammu business community which has suffered a lot from the last three years and now, with the report of opening of Reliance Stores in Jammu.
“Jammu traders have suffered from the last three years and the Govt. instead of taking decisions in their favour, if permits opening of Reliance stories it will have a direct adverse effect on the business community,” he said.
Other Jammu-based political party, Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party also extended its support to the traders. As per a press release, a delegation of DSSP led by its president Ch. Lal Singh visited the office of JCC&I to listen to the grievances of the business community.
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