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Now Jammu faces trade boycott by Kashmiris

Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR: Though normality has returned to Jammu after the prolonged agitation over the Amarnath land issue, traders from the region are being boycotted by their counterparts in Kashmir who are hurt over what they call “economic blockade” of the valley during the agitation.

A delegation of the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) has failed to convince the Kashmir traders but said it will continue the dialogue.

Pharmaceutical traders in the Kashmir valley refused to unload truckloads of medicine coming from the wholesalers in Jammu, and other traders indicated they would do so. In view of this, a JCCI delegation, led by its president Ram Sahai, rushed to Srinagar to talk to the Kashmir traders.

The delegation was, however, denied audience by the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI).

A senior official of the State government intervened and arranged a meeting among Mr. Sahai, his Kashmir counterpart Mubeen Shah and presidents of the Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir and Jammu. But the Kashmiri representatives did not turn up.

However, Mr. Sahai said that he held meetings with other traders, including a parallel body to the KCCI. “We did meet some other people though the KCCI refused to meet us” he told The Hindu. “Such situations do arise but we firmly believe that Jammu and Kashmir is one State and we will go together.”

He said that apart from listening to the grievances of Kashmiri traders the delegation also wanted to talk about the possible trade across the Line of Control. “We are continuing with our efforts and am hopeful that we will sit together”, said Mr Sahai.

Mr. Mubeen Shah categorically said that the KCCI would not hold any dialogue with them. “They have supported the Sangarsh Samiti agitation and did not bother to talk to us when the supply lines were cut. Now they have started feeling the heat.”

He made it clear that Kashmiri traders would get the stocks directly from Delhi and other Indian cities and not from Jammu. He reiterated the demand that the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road should be immediately thrown open. “The total Jammu and Kashmir trade volume is estimated at Rs.52,000 crore per annum out of which the yearly trade exchange between Jammu province and Kashmir province is around Rs.27, 000 crore,” said a trade leader.

“Of the Rs.27,000 crore Jammu traders will incur a loss of Rs.11,000 crore which will badly destabilise their economy,” he added.

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