The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Sunday urged its Jammu counterpart to reconsider its strike call for Monday.
The JCCI on Saturday gave a Jammu bandh call to press for its various demands, including abolition of toll tax.
“We would urge you to reconsider your call for a shutdown as we believe that being apex trade bodies we should seek to promote the resolution of problems through dialogue and not be seen as promoters of business interruptions,” KCCI president Javed Ahmed Tenga told reporters at a press conference.
Tenga said the KCCI had written to the JCCI in response to their ‘Wake Up Call’ for unification.
However, Tenga said, they are supportive of the JCCI’s demand for the abolition of the toll tax being charged by the state government.
Tenga said they also supported the demand of the Jammu Chamber regarding the alleged “unaccountable and insincere” working of the majority of the ministers and therefore the demand for their removal.
But, Tenga said, the KCCI was opposed to the demand for a state holiday on the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh.
“The Kashmir Chamber feels that the state has already notified 24 days as holidays and there is a need for reviewing and reducing the existing list of holidays,” Tenga said.
Regarding the JCCI’s demand for the deportation of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis from the state, Tenga said: “Rather than going into constitutional aspects, the Jammu Chamber needs to focus on the humanitarian aspect of the problem. Having said that, the KCCI is of the considered opinion that the state of Jammu and Kashmir should intervene in providing of relief and shelter to the Rohingya refugees.”
Tenga added that the KCCI wants to build bridges for the promotion of trade and commerce in the state.
While appealing to the JCCI for the cooperation in strengthening the business relations in J&K, Tenga said, “KCCI and JCCI are the apex trade and commerce bodies of the state and there is an immediate need to work with unity on the issues of common interest.”
