Jammu to observe ‘bandh’ today, Threaten Prolonged Agitation

Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry have given the bandh call to protest against government’s move of opening 100 Reliance retail stores in Jammu.

The protest is against other “anti-trade decisions” of the BJP government. It will be the first ever bandh by the traders since the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A on August 5, 2019.

“The Jammu Chamber of Commerce of Industry along with other business and trade organisations has given a call for Jammu bandh on Wednesday to draw the UT administration’s attention towards the hardships faced by them on account of some faulty policies,” read an official statement issued here.

“It is hoped that L-G Manoj Sinha and his administration will take note of the problems being faced by Jammu region, in particular by the lawyers, traders, businessmen, farmers, unemployed youth, and also the civic and infrastructure deficiencies, and address the same to make life easier for the people,” it added.

Bandh has political support

The National Conference, the Congress, the Panthers Party, the CPIM, the AAP, and the Apni Party have supported the bandh call.

J&K Congress Committee has announced its support to the bandh call of Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said its chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma.

Panthers Party president Bhim Singh said the entire Jammu province will protest against the government decision to open 100 Reliance stores.

Bar Association

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association has also extended its support to the bandh.

the Bar Association said the bandh call has been given by CCI and other business and trade organizations to draw the UT administration’s attention towards the hardships being faced by them on account of some faulty policies.

It said the Chamber president, Arun Gupta has approached the Bar Association seeking its support to bandh call and after threadbare discussions the Bar Association has decided to support the call.

Growing Resentment?

Ever since the scrapping of Article 370 and 35A, Jammu has seen things turning from bad to worse for its business community.

The traders’ body listed a number of “anti-Jammu” steps taken by the government: the e-auction of liquor shops earlier this year, which left local vendors in the lurch.

The proposal to open 100 Reliance stores against which small traders will find it difficult to compete.

And the allocation of mining contracts to “outsiders”, which had cost thousands their livelihoods.

Yet the biggest blow to Jammu’s economy may have been the end of 149-year-old practice the ‘Darbar Move’.

Every winter, the government and the entire administrative machinery of the state would shift from the summer capital of Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley to the winter capital of Jammu in the plains. This would in turn mean an economic boost for the region as affluent families would move to Jammu for the winter months.

However this July, the Union Territory administration effectively ended the practice, citing the drain on the exchequer. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha argued it would save the government Rs 200 crore annually.

But for the business community in Jammu, it means more losses. About 10,000 government employees and their families poured into Jammu from Kashmir every winter.

Government’s Response.

Ashok Koul, the BJP general secretary for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, insisted “the government is working for the welfare of Jammu”. He also played down the Jammu bandh call. “There’s no anger,” Koul said. “In a democracy, everyone has a right to make their point. Some put it directly while others say it indirectly.”

Prolonged Agitation

Arun Gupta, president of the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry said  “If the government doesn’t listen to us, we will launch a widespread agitation which will involve the support of various other stakeholders like the bar association and transport association.”

“We will sit down and frame a strategy. I don’t think that agitation will be for a single day. It can be prolonged and indefinite.”

The agitation, he added, may not be restricted to Jammu alone. “We will talk to our colleagues in Kashmir as well,” said Gupta.

(Inputs PTI, Scroll)