Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: Raising question on the stand taken by the Separatists leaders of Kashmir, the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry today said that Hurriyat leaders can not drag the people of Jammu and Ladakh regions along with Kashmiris and impose their will on them.
Addressing a press conference here today, president Jammu Chamber Rakesh Gupta expressed his concern over the deaths and destruction being witnessed in Kashmir. He said the ongoing turmoil in Kashmir being engineered on the behest of Pakistan and their supporters in Hurriyat camp, have brought only bloodshed and economic loss to the people of this State. He appealed to the people of Kashmir valley for restoring peace in the interest of progress, development and brotherhood in the State.
Mr Gupta while expressing grief on the loss of human lives, said that only common Kashmiri has lost his life while the children of Hurriyat leaders are studying and staying abroad. The CCI chief said that J&K State is comprised of three regions that is Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and not just Kashmir.
CCI president questioned the stand of the separatists in Kashmir and said without any intra- regional dialogue for making a consensus on what the people of the three regions want, they can not move ahead. They are no body to impose their will on every one in the State. The Chamber president made it clear that we do not agree with the war path adopted by the people at large in Kashmir and condemned the bandh call given by the separatist which led to deaths and injuries to both of civilians and the security forces.
He further said that the separatists should talk to the people of Jammu and Ladakh first, who too, are primary stakeholders to the region and then raise demand, if any. The president added that we are ready for talks if invited in the interest of peace and development of the State but made it clear that the separatist will have to shun the path of violence first. He said business community has suffered a huge loss and perishable items worth over Rs 1000 crore have been damaged due to this turmoil so far. The Govt must take affective steps to restore peace in the State.
The Jammu Chamber made it clear that it has always stood for brotherhood among three regions of the State and maintaining communal harmony at every cost. The Chamber warned both State and Central Government not to be soft on the people who provoke or indulge in violence. The Chamber also condemned the soft attitude of the security forces towards the hooligans who beat up the drivers, broke vehicles and beat up Shri Amarnath pilgrims. The Chamber appealed to the Government to empower the security forces and not to spare anyone who comes in the way of Amarnath Yatra.
Sham Lal Langer, senior vice president, Deepak Aggarwal, junior vice president, Arun Gupta- secretary general, Rahul Mahajan- secretary and Ashu Gupta- treasurer were also present.
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