‘BJP incapable of reading public mood’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 12: Former minister and PCC vice president Raman Bhalla today said that the industry, trade and commerce of Jammu & Kashmir is presently facing its biggest and worst economic challenge with larger and combined effect from Aug-2019 lockdown and COVID-19 crisis.
In a press statement here Bhalla said the cash inflows of industries have been affected from August-2019 and the situation is likely to stay that way for the financial year 2020-21. The small as well as the large businesses across the J&K are confronting extreme economic challenges as result of COVID-19 pandemic. He said that hotel industry which was already on ventilator due to extension of train service from Jammu to Katra is going to bear the brunt of COVID pandemic and ongoing lockdown for a longer time. The tourism fraternity i.e., hoteliers, travel agents, dhabawallas, dealers dealing in shawls and handicrafts, dry fruits, taxis and auto-rickshaws, etc which was already under financial stress has been further hit badly.
Former minister also held interaction with shopkeepers of Trikuta Nagar main market to listen to their grievances during lockdown and now working conditions under relaxation. He said micro and small scale sector of Jammu and Kashmir is on the verge of closure due to non-availability of state fiscal incentives as par with Pre-GST regime. This resulted in great resentment amongst the unit holders who are providing employment to local youths, he said.
No incentive is given to micro and small scale sector of J&K for intra-state sale of goods, in-spite of the fact that the micro & small scale units dependent on the sale of their goods within the state resulting great resentment amongst the unit.
He alleged that the BJP rule was the darkest period for J&K, particularly for the Jammu region that suffered because of the anti-people policies and programmes. The sufferers were the common people, especially youth who were exploited and denied opportunities to get jobs because of their anti-youth policies,” he said.
Despite people hitting streets against governance deficit, lack of development and failure of the Government to deliver on the promises made to the people of the Jammu and Kashmir, Govt has not moved even an inch proving callousness of this anti-people Govt. There is a strong resentment among the people against BJP as it has not fulfilled its promises made to people.