Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 18: Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) today warned the Government of non-cooperation and indefinite strike if it continues its dilly –dallying tactics in settling the problems of traders of Jammu region and continues to harass them.
The warning was given at a joint press conference addressed by CCI president Y V Sharma, its general secretary Arun Gupta and vice president, Sham Lal Langer here today.
Making a scathing attack on State Government Mr Sharma accused it of not settling the compensation issue of the August 9 violence hit traders of Kishtwar. It was assured that the Government will assess the loss within a month and pay compensation as per the loss suffered by each trader but nothing has been done till date, said Mr Sharma.
He said instead of paying the compensation as per the loss the Government issued a Cabinet order recently in which it was stated that the compensation from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh will be paid to affected traders irrespective of extent of total loss. This was a total back track from the promise made with the Chamber by the Government, he added.
Outrightly rejecting the compensation of Rs 2 to 5 lakh he said there are traders who suffered loss from Rs 10 lakh to one crore and who will compensate them for this huge loss. He warned that if Government continues anti traders policies the Chamber will be constrained to take such steps which will affect the trade in the State.
He also took a dig at Government for its duel policies towards the traders of the State and took serious exception of conducting the Income Tax raids on six traders of Jammu recently. This way, the Government was harassing the business community of Jammu and asked why such raids are conducted in this region only.
Mr Sharma said the CCI also feels disillusioned on the action of Government in arbitrarily imposing VAT on certain items on which it was not imposed in the budget. It was done so surreptitiously in the month of June that it came as a bolt from blue for traders. Though Finance Minister assured that the matter will be reviewed but after the lapse of four months nothing has been done, he added.
He also demanded that buses be allowed to come in the City Bus Stand and drop and board passengers from there otherwise trade in the area will be affected. He said the traders in this area also suffered during the Amarnath yatra as the buses were not allowed to come into the Bus Stand by the authorities.
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