JCCI withdraws Jammu Bandh call

Gupta had called for shutdown ‘in solidarity with army, police, CRPF and against anti-India elements’
Jammu :

Just a few hours after announcing ‘Jammu Bandh’ on Saturday, the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) deferred the call late on Friday evening, claiming that some prominent civil society members from

Kashmir have responded to its invitation for an “intra-region dialogue.” Some reports however said the JCCI failed to garner any support to the Bandh Call and hence decided to retract.

“In continuation to the Bandh Call given today, it is hereby informed that the President JCCI, Rakesh Gupta, and his team have received communications from few but prominent members of influence from Kashmir Civil Society to give at least a week’s time to convince the stakeholders in Kashmir—other than the government—for an intra-region dialogue,” a press release issued by JCCI said. “In view of this assurance, the Chamber feels that reasonable time be given to the ‘nationalist forces’ in Kashmir who are trying to urge and impress upon the masses there for an early intra-region dialogue. Hence, the call for Jammu Bandh on August 20 is hereby deferred till further information.”

Earlier in the day, Gupta, while addressing media persons here, had said the Bandh Call was given for “peace and communal brotherhood, and against the anti-national elements, who are trying to push the state on the pathway of violence and sabotaging the dialogue process.”

Elaborating on “intra-regional dialogue”, Gupta said: “As they (Civil Society of Valley) are raising ‘Azadi slogans’, we people of Jammu and Ladakh could not understand their viewpoint as to what kind of freedom they want. So we invited them for dialogue to either convince people of Jammu with their opinion or get convinced with our viewpoint. They cannot take anything to conclusion unilaterally.”

“The Bandh would be for peace and communal brotherhood in the state and against the anti-national elements who are trying to push the state on the pathway of violence. It would be in solidarity with army, JKP and other paramilitary forces deployed in Kashmir to maintain law and order,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gupta raised suspicion over functioning of media (without naming any organization) and “use of religious places against the country.”

The JCCI President said: “I wonder how the media, that is governed by certain laws of the country and religious places can be used for spreading hate against the country and its soldiers.”

“Let me tell you very frankly that we will oppose the use of religious organisations and media against the country tooth and nail,” he said.

Gupta also raised question mark on the functioning of PDP-BJP Government in the backdrop of worsening situation in Kashmir.

“We have also sought to know from the government that what was the need to pay salaries to the tune of Rs 3000 crore per-month to employees who are on unauthorized leave for the past 40 days?” Gupta said, adding: “Around Rs 2000 crore has been paid to the employees of Kashmir only.”

He said the traders have till date suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1000 crore due to the Kashmir turmoil and the backbone of the state economy, the tourism sector, has been badly affected .

Explaining further, Gupta claimed: “I can assure you that in next six months to come, no tourist or pilgrim will visit the state due to its dented image and ultimately it will affect our economy.” “Who will bear the losses suffered by the trade and industry, state or union government?”

He also appealed the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to direct all the ministers to have their camp offices in Jammu till the decision to move Durbar to Jammu is taken so that common man does not suffer.