Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: Chamber of Traders Federation (CTF) termed the proposed move of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to levy user charges on vehicles playing on Jammu-Lakhanpur and Jammu-Udhampur stretch as against Jammu, anti-trade and anti-people.
According to a handout issued by Yash Paul Gupta, president, CTF said that the Jammu-Udhampur stretch is being mainly used by pilgrims to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and by tourists to Kashmir valley and any kind of tax on pilgrims and tourists will affect the economy of Jammu vis-à-vis Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and Shri Amar Nath Shrine pilgrimages.
Labeling the move as against the trade, Gupta reminded the Central Government that the trade in the State is already suffering due to the levy of the heavy toll-tax at Lakhanpur and levying any further tax on the goods carriers will have adverse and deleterious effect on the trade in the State especially in Jammu region.
He considered it a betrayal to the people of Jammu region who voted heavily in favour of the BJP under the leadership of PM, Narendra Modi, who promised relief from price rise. He added that the proposed move of NHAI will add cost to the price of every commodity and will affect the people adversely.
Gupta appealed to the Governor, the elected representatives of the people and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed to stop this move of NHAI.
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