CCI sets deadline for Valley people for holding discussions with people of Jammu, Ladakh

Disapproving the ongoing protest violence in the Kashmir Valley that was leading the people towards the path of "self destruction" and "not to self determination", the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) has set a deadline for the people of Kashmir for holding intra-region discussions with the people of Jammu and Ladakh by 1 p.m. on August 19, failing which, they warned, they will call a Jammu bandh on August 20 against the agenda of 'anti-national' elements in the state.

The message was conveyed after consulting all business, industry and transport representatives attending an "urgent" meeting under the chairmanship of CCI president Rakesh Gupta at Chamber House here on Wednesday.

The representatives unanimously decided to give a deadline as they did not support the way of protests chosen by them, which was leading the people towards the path of self destruction and not self determination.

"If by 1 p.m. on Friday, the Jammu Chamber does not get a positive message from representatives of the Kashmir Civil Society for intra-region dialogues followed by a joint delegation of representatives from three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh to call on Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti with a charter of demands, the Jammu Chamber shall be left with no option, but to call a Jammu bandh on Saturday in support of peace and communal harmony, and against the agenda of anti-national elements in the state," warned Gupta.

The CCI chief further warned those who were trying to radicalise the youth, and appealed for total communal harmony across the state. He also warned those political parties which were trying to add fuel to the fire rather than acting responsibly to contain the situation.

Earlier at the meeting, presidents and secretaries of all major trade bazaar, industries, tourism and transport associations discussed the grave situation in the Kashmir Valley leading to loss of human lives and law and order problem, and tarnishing the image of the state.

Condoling the deaths of the civilians and the security personals, the representatives blamed anti-nationals for the loss of human lives.

Speaking at the meeting, Gupta explained that the current situation in the Valley has pushed the state backward by decades.

"Many prominent people from the civil society in Kashmir have approached us, seeking our intervention to break the deadlock and help bringing the situation in Kashmir back to normalcy, as they can't speak or do anything because of the fear and threat of guns of the anti-nationals," said Gupta in a statement.

CCI senior vice president Sham Lal Langer, CCI junior vice president Deepak Aggarwal, CCI secretary general Arun Gupta, CCI treasurer Ashu Gupta and presidents and secretaries of all bazars, trades, industrial, tourism and transport associations were also present at the meeting.

As many as 65 have been killed and thousands of civilians and security personnel reported injured in protest-related violence following the encounter of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen poster boy Burhan Wani in July.