Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Sept 13: Governor N N Vohra today blamed Pakistan of making attempts to destabilize the Indian economy and threatening the security of the country. He asked the security agencies to devise a mechanism to counter it.
Addressing a seminar on “Curbing Counterfeiting and Smuggling-An imperative for Indian Economy” organized by Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy (CASCADE), in collaboration with Kashmir Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) held here today, Vohra said that counterfeiting was posing a major challenge to the country. He said it has become another weapon for countries to destabilize their enemies.
He said that the counterfeiting is being used to destabilize other countries and to put a road block on their economic progress. He said that neighbouring country is using same tactics against India to destabilize its growing economy.
He expressed concern over the attempts made by Pakistan to push in counterfeit currency in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the currency is used for funding militancy. He asked security agencies to maintain tight vigil to foil such attempts of the neighbouring country.
“Our State is facing this challenge. We are facing it at national as well. We have to prepare a mechanism to foil all such designs from people sitting across the border. The counterfeiting is a new challenge to us and we must also find out new mechanisms to save our economy,” said Vohra.
The Governor said that smuggling, fake currency, black money and hawala transactions are utilized by organized militant groups and mafia networks to foster illegal trade in arms and drugs and fund militant activities in India. He said Jammu and Kashmir has already faced serious problems because of this.
He said sustained approach is needed to make people aware about the counterfeiting. He said that fake products are being flooded in the markets to cheat consumers. “Consumers are not aware about their rights. They are not conscious to distinguish genuine and duplicate products. A proper mechanism is needed which could provide distinguish between quality products at reasonable rates,” he said.
Stating that Jammu and Kashmir is a growing tourism State and tourists coming from other States and foreign nationals are spending a reasonable amount of money in purchasing local made products. “If a small percentage of the visitors are cheated and sold spurious goods there would be damage to the reputation of the State,” Vohra said
Minister for Information Technology and Science and Technology Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi highlighted the problems faced by handicrafts industry in Jammu and Kashmir, which is under threat from machine made goods being branded as handmade Kashmir art.
Justice (Retd) B A Kirmani, President, J&K State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission on the occasion stressed upon people and the law enforcing agencies to check menace of counterfieting.
Kirmani said that counterfeiting is posing threat to the world economy and it is being predicted that it will continue to grow as the people involved in it are earning a huge profits.
In his welcome address, Hamid Punjabi, President, KCCI, said that the seminar is of immense importance as it will aware the stakeholders as how to curb the production and use of counterfeit products. He said that Kashmir handicrafts products have become worst victims of counterfeiting and sought the support of FICCI-CASCADE in this regard.
The seminar was attended by office bearers of FICCI, representatives of trade and industry and people from different walks of life.
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