EARLY TIMES REPORT
Srinagar, Dec 21: At the recently held international business summit in the Middle East, the Jammu and Kashmir government seemingly gave a lion’s share of business promotion to valley were as Jammu was given a “minimal opportunity.”
At the recently concluded UAE-India Food Security Summit 2020 held in Dubai, the JK Government had taken along at least fourteen businessmen from the union territory but only two were from Jammu. Around a dozen others were from Kashmir.
Delegates comprising prominent businessmen, investors and representatives of the public sector organizations, business entrepreneurs from J&K had “negligible representation of the Jammu region.”
“Most of the influential businessmen from Kashmir were taken along for the meet whereas the concerned seem to be forgotten that Jammu also has business prospects that need to be sold internationally,” said a senior official on the condition of anonymity.
Sources said with the domination of the businessmen from Kashmir at the international event, the focus remained on the promotion of business activities of the valley alone.
Sources said even in the business promotion, the stalls that were showcased at the event had domination of Kashmir. “When ninety percent of the representation is from one region how can you expect the promotion of the other region?” the officials questioned.
Even though the abrogation of the special status was expected to end “years of alleged discrimination” with the Jammu region, much awaited respite still seems to be distant dream.
“Basically an influential business lobby in Kashmir has been playing the so called victim card of Kashmir conflict and in doing so they hijack the interests of Jammu region,” said a businessman of Jammu region. It is pertinent to mention that a delegation of farmers, growers, businessmen and government officials from Jammu and Kashmir, Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department, J&K participated in UAE-India Food Security Summit, 2020 with an aim to promote horticulture produce of Union Territory in the international market and tap the Gulf market.
When contacted a senior official downplayed the allegations of discrimination with Jammu region. “Jammu also got its due share at the event and the government is committed to promote both the regions of the union territory. People should not go by such conspiracy theories of discrimination,” the official said on the condition of anonymity. |
