Fruit sellers’ monoply

Sir,

You have been bringing to the notice of public and concerned Govt. Agencies about the high rates charged by Shopkeepers, dealer or Agents for various eatable and other articles of public interest, in your said column.

In this regard, we may bring to your kind notice and as you are well aware that various Fruits in Jammu are costlier as compared to Delhi, Punjab and other States. Take the example of Banana-that used to be the common fruit of the children and poor people as it was so cheap has now become so costly that it is beyond the reach of common man and is being sold in Jammu from Rs. 25/- to 35/- per dozen depending on the quality and size as compared to Rs. 15/- to Rs. 20/- per dozen sold in other States.

The main reason according to our knowledge and information is that some Agents/Arti's have a monoply to import these fruits and somehow manage not to allow others to enter in this trade. Same is the position in regard to other fruits-Mangoes, Oranges, Musambi, Anar, Grapes and water melon etc.

Kindly survey/study the market and enlighten the public in this regard and expose those responsible for it in your said column.

Yours etc...
S P Sharma
Gandhi Nagar Jammu.

A welcome decision

Sir,

It is gratifying to learn (D.E., 29th June) that the State Cabinet has decided to keep in abeyance the imposition of the levy of Rs. 2,000/- from pilgrim Delux buses entering the State. The argument of the State Govt. that the neighbouring State are levying such charge from our State buses is no justification for the charge by our state especially when the economy of the State is in ruins coupled with the position in which the ISI sponsored terrorism has landed our Tourist Industry. There are innumerable countries from Africa to Indonesia with sizable Muslim population. Does any country other than India subsidize Air Travel of Haji's to Mecca? The State Administration's plea of conformity with neighbouring States does not, therefore, hold water and is remniscient of 18th century Jazia on Hindu Pilgrims.

Yours etc...
D K Wakhloo
29-Patel Nagar ,
TT Jammu.

Division of J&K

Sir,

Refer Mr. Kaul's reaction who is Chairman of Kashmiri Samaj about VHP's demand of separate homeland with UT Status in Kashmir for Kashmiri Hindus. I think that, Mr. Kaul is living no fools paradise. May I ask a question to Mr. Kaul that why Kashmiri Hindus were killed in Kashmir at the early stages of militancy and the rest were forced to leave Kashmir? Our only fault was that we were Hindus and nationalists. Mr. Kaul and others should learn lessons from history of Kashmiri Hindus in Kashmir, that how we were always suppressed by fundamentalist elements there. The migration of Kashmiri Hindus started after partition of India due to their harassment and non-availability of living avenues. But the rate of migration was slow as compared to the forced migration in 1990. Our youth can not settle in Kashmir now even if pre-1990 normalcy returns there because their future is bleak there and the State Govt. will not be able to provide jobs and other living avenues like business to each and every K P youth.

Thus, it is better to divide Jammu and Kashmir into four parts i.e Jammu should be given separate statehood, Ladakh should be given UT status and an UT should be carved out of Kashmir valley for Kashmiri Hindus only then they can exist there and rest of Kashmir should be given full fledged autonomy as per the aspirations and wishes of the people there.

This is the only way/solution to solve Jammu and Kashmir problem and solve the sufferings of hapless KPs.

Yours etc...
Ashok Kaul
Jammu.