J-K economy has collapsed due to restrictions imposed since

Targeting the government over restrictions imposed in Jammu and Kashmir since August last year, the Congress on Wednesday said the economy of the region has collapsed due to the measures and demanded immediate release of former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah.

Initiating a discussion on the budgetary proposals and demand for grants for the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, Congress member Manish Tewari urged the government to "open ears" and "listen" to the voices of people as he claimed a "dangerous situation" is developing there.

He said that social peace is important for economic development of a place.

Tewari alleged that the decisions of August 5, 2019 to abrogate provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and divide the state into Union territories, have demolished the economy.

He said that growth of key sectors, including agriculture and tourism, are declining. "It will be better if the budget for Jammu and Kashmir could have been discussed in the Assembly," he said, adding the August decisions are a "tragedy" for these union territories.

Citing data of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he said there was a loss of Rs 18,000 crore. "...USD 2.4 billion worth of economy was lost after the decision of August 5-6, 2019," he said, adding agriculture sector has lost Rs 10,000 crore in last seven months.

Similarly, he said, apple farmers earned Rs 6,500 crore in 2016-17 and after the imposition of restrictions only 50 per cent of harvesting could be done.

He said that the tourism industry, which is the biggest after agriculture, has "totally collapsed".

Tewari said that tourist flow too has impacted as it was estimated that about 21 lakh tourists will come to Jammu and Kashmir but till July 2019, the figure was 5.21 lakh.

Over 5.6 lakh jobs are also impacted in the sector and about 50,000 jobs are hit in the carpet sector due to closure of restrictions on internet services.

Noting that maximum budget has been allotted to the home affairs department, he said, "...this is an unsustainable model, it will not work."