JAMMU: Expressing concern over the permanent settlement of non-State subjects and foreign nationals in Jammu city and around, Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) termed it as a great threat to the security of the State as these people can provide all possible support and shelter to the anti nationals to carry out not only attacks on security forces but maybe involved in the menace of drugs, thefts and all sorts of crimes without being traced.
While speaking to media persons here on Wednesday, CCI President Rakesh Gupta questioned the law enforcing agencies for maintaining silence and inaction over the permanent settlement of non-state subjects in a State where national and state security should be their prime concern. “It is a matter of concern that these people are also seen as beggars and rag pickers possibly doing recce may be passing on sensitive information to the anti nationals,” he added.
Gupta sought State Government’s stand on dual policy of enforcing Article 370 on different lines in Kashmir where even the construction of Sanik Colony for the people serving in JKP and are the State Subjects and even colony for Kashmiri Pandit Migrants who are indispensible part and parcel of the State have not seen the light of the day due to threats from anti nationals within the State and on the other hand the State Government is allowing the settlement of non state subjects and even foreign nationals in Jammu.
Chamber questioned the government that on one hand the human rights of the people from West Pakistan have been violated over decades by denying them their rights even being Indians and on the contrary being mute spectators to the unlawful settlement of foreign nationals here. Gupta asked the Ministry of Railways as to how they have employed foreign nationals as labour that has led their entry and permanent settlement in the State whereas an ample labour of Indian origin is freely available.
The Chamber also warned various government officers who are openly supporting the big chains not caring about the laws which has not only made the local traders hard to make ends meet but also threatening the existence of local industrialists in the State by not following the purchase and price preference policies made itself by the government for reasons which are very visible now.
Citing example of corruption and favouritism, Gupta said that the chemist shops inside various government hospitals in Jammu Province were allotted to a same group from outside the State by violating the norms of the tenders and allowing them to sell medicines to the poor suffering patients.
The Chamber asked State’s Health Department to clear its stand on this act which will force thousands of chemist shop owners to shut down their shops.
Among others who were present in the press conference include Junior Vice President Deepak Aggarwal and Secretary Rahul Mahajan.