The Industry, Trade and Commerce of Jammu & Kashmir is presently facing its biggest and worst economic challenge with larger and combined effect from Aug-2019 lockdown and COVID-19 crisis. The cash inflows of industries have been affected from August-2019 and the situation is likely to stay that way for the financial year 2020-21. The small as well as the large businesses across the J&K are confronting extreme economic challenges as result of COVID19 Pandemic”, former Minister and senior Congress leader Bhalla said on Friday. He said that hotel Industry which was already on ventilator due to extension of train service from Jammu to Katra is going to bear the brunt of COVID pandemic and ongoing lockdown for a longer time. He further said that tourism fraternity i.e., hoteliers, travel agents, dhabawallas, dealers dealing in shawls and handicrafts, dry fruits, taxis and auto-rickshaws, etc which was already under financial stress has been further hit badly.
Former Minister on Friday held interaction with shopkeepers of Trikuta Nagar main market to listen to their grievances during lockdown and now working conditions under relaxation. Prominent among those present on the occasion include Anil Jain, Aman Bawa, Kamal Wadhera, Akshay Sawhney, Sahil Kholi, Govind, Mathwan, Ajay Sharma, Pawan Kumar beside others.
Micro and small scale sector of Jammu and Kashmir is on the verge of closure due to non-availability of state fiscal incentives as par with Pre-GST regime. This resulted in great resentment amongst the unit holders who are providing employment to local youths, he said. No Incentive is given to Micro and Small Scale Sector of J&K for intra-state Sale of Goods, in-spite of the fact that the Micro & Small Scale units dependent on the sale of their goods within the state resulting great resentment amongst the unit Holders. Further the position is more serious due to sharp decline in the Industrial growth in J&K in post GST Regime due to non-availability of state/Central Fiscal Incentives to the new units and units under substantial expansion resulting in flight of Capital from the state to other states near to the market. He requested LG to kindly intervene in to the matter and grant the incentives to the Existing Micro & Small Scale Units of the State for their survival.
Expressing his anguish over mounting problems of the common masses, Raman Bhalla on Friday both Union Govt and LG Administration have done nothing to solve basic problems of the people.He observed that day-today problems of the people are compounding with every passing day and there is no one to listen to their grievances as Administration is not at all accessible to mitigate their sufferings. He regretted that common masses in J&K are struggling with number of problems and claimed that never before has Jammu region witnessed abysmally paralyzed administration in terms of development and public welfare as during BJP regime, added Bhalla.
Former Minister further said that living in a world of phantasm, BJP Jammu is still incapable of gauging the mood of the people of the region. A visionless political party and a party guided by selfish aggrandizement is not what the Jammu electorate is looking for. Nevertheless, by its non-deliverance and wanton waste of a golden opportunity of pioneering the cause of Jammu region, BJP has become instrumental in making only tall promises and doing nothing on ground.
Bhalla alleged that the BJP rule was the darkest period for J&K, particularly for the Jammu region that suffered because of the anti-people policies and programmes. The sufferers were the common people, especially youth who were exploited and denied opportunities to get jobs because of their anti-youth policies,” he said. Government has miserably failed to live up to the expectations of the people. There is a strong resentment among the people against this government as it has not fulfilled its promises made to people. People are not happy with their policies and the government has proved to be a failure.
Despite people hitting streets against governance deficit, lack of development and failure of the government to deliver on the promises made to the people of the Jammu and Kashmir, Govt has not moved even an inch proving callousness of this anti-people Govt. Bhalla said that disillusionment of people with the BJP government is growing, as governance is at the lowest depth and development has taken nose dive in the past over six years.“People are realising the futility of electing a government that is not only insensitive towards their problems but also responsible in adding to these on every front”, he said.
Bhalla said that the concern of people of the J&K and the entire nation is restoration of peace and normalcy by containing militancy in Kashmir Valley and to address the terrorist attacks which is taking toll of people, fresh recruitment and their increasing attacks, targeting security forces is a matter of great concern. He said that merely strongly worded statements would not help to control the situation on the ground.
Bhalla expressed concern over delay in salaries of the employees and daily wagers. He also asked the people not to fall prey to nefarious designs of those who are inimical to peace and prosperity of J&K. Stating that the present regime is “throwing all rules and regulations to winds”, Bhalla said. The government is making it clear that merit has no value in the present regime.The former Minister said due to wrong policies of BJP Govt, the normal life in entire J&K is in jeopardy, especially as the government has lost will to govern.
The lack of political direction has terribly impacted the administration that is seen wanting in every sector. In this context, he referred to the administrative breakdown, developmental paralysis and poor condition of utility services in most parts of Jammu. This has made the life of people, particularly in the Jammu region miserable. Similar is the scenario with respect to rations, provision of agriculture inputs to farmers and lack of basic minimum necessities to the people, Bhalla said, adding that the people are disillusioned and disenchanted with the present government.
Bhalla decried diversionary tactics being adopted by Union Govt to cover up their failures. “They are more talking politics and less attending to the woes of the people that has created a peculiar situation”, he said and referred to various contentious issues raked up by govt to satiate their constituencies. He said there are inherent contradictions on important matters of governance. While the people have been left to fend for themselves, govt is indulging in real politic to escape responsibility, he maintained. He cautioned government to see writing on wall and try to meet minimum expectations of people.
He said govt raking up more controversies by indulging in real politick rather than attending to the woes and problems of the people. As a consequence J&K is suffering profusely; he said and added that there seems no cohesion on important matters of governance. He said the government has lost its direction and its myopic vision has caused a developmental vacuum, which if not addressed push the people to wall.He said the developmental tempo initiated and sustained by Congress government during six years has come to a grinding halt and all tall claims and promises delivered before and after formation of the government proved to be hoax. Similarly, the people across J&K were facing hardships on account of utility services like power and drinking water, with rations becoming scarce at the sale outlets, especially in remote and far flung areas.