JAMMU: BJP Trade and Industry Cell State Convenor Kulbushan Mohtra, on Tuesday said that the ongoing unrest in Valley has badly affected the Jammu business and caused losses to the tune of thousands of crores.
“The industry business is the prime source of economy of the State as well as the employment provider and in Jammu and Kashmir the share of government in employment is 3 per cent whereas the trade and industry provides employment which is seven per cent,” Mohtra told reporters, here. Many a time, he said, the government cannot pay regular salaries to three per cent of its employees whereas trade and industry employees get regular salaries despite strikes, Bandhs and in situation like present one. Mohtra said that the trade in Srinagar and Jammu had suffered during 2008 land row agitation and it took many years to bring the business on rails, which has not been in a position to recover fully and now unfortunately the traders are again suffering losses due to the ongoing unrest Kashmir. He said that the traders of Jammu province are concerned towards the losses and it appeals its counterparts in Valley to work in the direction of convincing the trouble makers so that peace is restored and normal business starts once again. He also appealed to the State Government to concentrate on 95 per cent people, who want peace and take stern action on the 5 per cent who are responsible for making troubles. Cells Prabhari Varind-erjeet Singh, Members Trade and Industry Cell Sudarshan Khajuria and Bansi Lal Gupta were also present in the press conference.