JFI opposes Jammu bandh, says it suits Kashmiri separatists

Opposing Jammu Bandh call given by Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), Jammu for India (JFI) today urged the people of the province to eschew the call in the larger national interest, saying it only suits Kashmiri separatists.
The Chambers of Commerce and Industries (CCI) of Jammu had called for a day-long 'Jammu Bandh' tomorrow in support for restoration of peace in Kashmir Valley and communal harmony in J&K.
Jammu Bar Association (JBA) did not support or oppose the bandh and maintained silence by saying JCCI did not consulted them.
"We urge the people of the Jammu province to appreciate the dangerous ramifications of these formulations and eschew the idea of Bandh in the larger national interest as well in the interest of nationalistpeople who have been doing all to defeat the ongoing communal and separatist movement in the Valley," JFI Convenor Hari Om Gupta said.

"How could a trading body indulge in activities which have the potential of unsettling the settled and directly promoting the separatist cause in the name of Jammu's interest?," he said.
Hari said Jammu and Kashmir remains an integral part of India.

"Jammu and Kashmir is and shall ever remain an integral part of India. The only issue which still remain unresolved between India and Pakistan is the determination of the political status of POJK, Gilgitand Baltistan, which, is politically, legally and constitutionally Indian," he said.
"By using the term 'Intra-regional Talks', the Chamber of Commerce President Rakesh Gupta has crossed the red-line and created a sort of confusion and commotion in the region," Hari said.

The JFI makes a fervent appeal to the people of Jammu province to ignore the bandh call and carry on their work as usual, he said.
Ram Sena also opposed the bandh call.
"We oppose bandh call by the JCCI as it will hit traders more as they have suffered due to Kashmir strike. There are yatras going on in Jammu, so it should be opposed by all organisations," J&K Shri Ram Sena chief, Rajiv Mahajan said.