Chamber of commerce calls off Jammu bandh
Jammu, August 14 (Scoop News)-Citizens Forum has assailed the extension of Jammu bandh call for another 48-hours by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jammu, claiming with the support of some other organizations.
In a joint press statement, issued here today, Sh RK Chadha President of the Citizens Forum and other members of the forum have said that this provides excuse to the authorities to extend the curfew, causing untold hardships and sufferings to the common man. Continuation of Bandh on the Independence Day also is not in keeping with the spirit of patriotism and nationalism, since it aims at depriving the people at large in celebrating country’s Independence Day, with various organizations, association and trade bodies hoisting national flag at different places on the occasion.
The statement has further said that while the privileged who give call for continuous bandh and practically exempt from the curfew as they roam about freely, holding meetings and also getting necessities of life, it are the common people who suffer and undergo the hardships. The daily wagers lose their days’ earnings, while common people are denied daily necessities and also freedom to move about. The continuous bandh call is not in the interest of business community, to whom the CCI represents. It is only in the interest of the politicians, hoarders and black marketers, the statement has added.
Chadda has further stated that the representatives of Jammu people should not emulate the Kashmiri separatists in giving calls for prolonged shutdowns. The separatists further their antinational agenda in unrest and miseries of the people, while the national interest lies in peace and normalcy, which are disturbed by the bandhs.
The forum has also welcomed CM’s decision to not allow any political leader to go to Kishtwar, at the time when the situation was tense their due to communal violence. But now when the situation has somehow eased the government should officially take a team of selected media people from Jammu as well as from other parts of the country and some members of the civil society to have objective assessment of the situation and root cause of the trouble.
The forum has appealed the authorities to lift the curfew forthwith to spare common people hardships and suffering. Particularly atmosphere should be created for the people to celebrate the Independence Day without any tension.
Other signatories to the statement include SS Wazir Ex. DIGP, Retired Chief Engineer Vikram Gaur, Retired Conservator of Forests S I H Qazmi, Retired Director ERA and Ex Vice Chairman JDA R.K Handa, JS Chawaun, Retired Chief Engineer Arun Sharma, Retired Chief Engineer Vinay Kotwal, Retired AEE M.S Kapoor, Retired engineer K R Gandotra, Businessman Ramesh Gupta, Businessman K.K Mahajan, Retired Secretary of JKBOSE Professor Mohammad Ayub and Social Activists Rahat Hussain.
Meanwhile Chamber of commerce calls off Jammu bandh. Asks traders to resume business after curfew is lifted.
Curfew was relaxed in Jammu city till 3 PM. Sources said that could be relaxed till 6 PM. Curfew could be lifted today if situation remains peaceful.
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