Jammu traders sets Aug 19 deadline for Intra Region dialogue; Oppose protests in Kashmir

Traders, industrialists and transporters of the Jammu region today unanimously gave a deadline to the people of Kashmir for holding intra-region discussions with the people of Jammu and Ladakh to restore normalcy in the state as they do not support the “way of protests” chosen by Kashmiris.
They said they would call for a complete shutdown in Jammu on August 20 if they do not get a positive response from the representatives of Kashmir civil society for the intra-region dialogue.
In an urgent meeting convened at Chamber House under the leadership of Rakesh Gupta, president, Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), traders, industrialists, transporters and stakeholders in the tourism industry discussed the “grave situation” in the Kashmir valley, resulting into a law and order problem which has led to loss of precious human lives.
The presidents and secretaries of all major trade bazaars, industrial, tourism and transport associations attended the meeting and put forth their viewpoint on the prevailing situation in the Valley. While condoling the deaths of civilians and security men, they blamed anti-national forces for it.
Gupta explained to the heads of various associations from trade, industry, tourism and transport that the current situation in Kashmir had pushed the state backward by decades.
He claimed that many prominent people from the civil society in Kashmir had approached them to intervene and break the deadlock and help bring the situation back to normal as “they could not speak or do anything but sit as prisoners in their homes for more than one month now because of the fear and threat of guns of anti-nationals.”
After consulting all business, industry and transport representatives, it was unanimously decided to give a deadline to the people of Kashmir for intra-region discussions with the people of Jammu and Ladakh.
He announced that if by Friday, August 19, the Jammu Chamber does not get a positive message from representatives of Kashmir civil society for the intra-region dialogue followed by a joint delegation calling on Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti with a charter of demands, the Jammu Chamber would be left with no option but to call for a Jammu shutdown on August 20 in support of peace, communal harmony and against the agenda of the anti-national elements.