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| Jammu traders may suffer Rs 15,000 Cr loss | | | HAMAAD SALIF
JAMMU, Sept 27: After months of hibernation when agitation alone was the face of politics, the politicians are no rejoicing over cross-LoC trade pact but none of them voicing concern over the ‘trade-trust-deficit’ deepening between Kashmir and Jammu regions.
The trade between two parts of Jammu and Kashmir is being initiated at a time when the Kashmiri traders are snapping their ties with their Jammu counterparts. Ever since the trans-LoC trade was first agreed upon ‘in principle’ between New Delhi and Islamabad in May 2006, the trade and commerce lobbies both in Kashmir and Jammu had been working in tandem to see this happening. Now when the trans-LoC trade has become reality, the Kashmiri and Jammu based traders are not seeing each other eye to eye. Kashmiri traders accuse their Jammu counterparts of siding up with the alleged communal forces in past two months to force, what they say, ‘economic blockade’ of the Valley. “We have lost trust in Jammu traders and would never like to deal with them again”, says Mubeen Shah. His Jammu counterpart Ram Sahai refutes the allegations. Sahai, who was part of the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, spearheading two-month long agitation on Amarnath land row, says, “there was never any organized blockade”. Describing allegations as far from truth, he says, “disruption of supplies is natural during shut downs and curfews”.
Jammu and Kashmir has an annual trade volume of around Rs 52,000 Crores and out this around Rs 30,000 Crore exchange is between Kashmir and Jammu. If the ongoing boycott by Kashmiri traders continue, Jammu’s trade economy is likely to suffer a loss of something between Rs 12,000 and Rs 15,000 Crores. “This is temporary and under pressure from separatists, we are sure Kashmiri traders will resume ties with us”, said a trade representative in Jammu who did not wish to be named. The Kashmiri traders however say that they have already started dealing directly with the traders in other trade centers of country with a view to bypass Jammu. Trade and industry in Jammu stands almost isolated at present. The trans-LoC trade was supposed to building trust on both sides of Line of Control but this is being initiated when there is huge trust deficit within the state.
For the Congress led United Progressive Alliance government, the initiation of Cross-LoC trade is though a major brownie point in its peacemaking record, at the same time it could be a most difficult situation of the recent times. The trans-LoC trade has its own political advantages and disadvantages. If the political atmosphere continues like it is prevailing now, the political disadvantages may far outweigh the advantages. It was the UPA Government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh which won hearts of lakhs of people by initiating two trans-LoC bus services for divided families –one in 2005 and other in 2006. That was internationally billed as mother of all Confidence Building Measures and Pakistan’s then President Musharraf too earned huge accolades. This time the same route is being thrown open for trade when separatist sentiment in Kashmir Valley is at its highest –perhaps highest so far. Many in Jammu and elsewhere in the country are describing initiation of LoC trade “at this stage” as succumbing before the separatist pressure even though it has been a part of composite dialogue.
Alleging blockage of economic supplies from Jammu during the Amarnath land row, the Kashmiri separatists announced a march to Muzaffarabad with trucks loaded with fruits. Home Minister Shivraj Patil was on a two-day J&K visit as head of a central delegation. At a Srinagar Press Conference on August 11, Patil said, “I appeal these people not to make any such move which puts them (Kashmiri traders) and us in a difficult situation”. Patil went on say, “I appeal them from here, please put off your proposal (of Muzaffarabad march) as we are sincere about opening the LoC route for trade…wait for October…this will be open”. Patil’s response to the “Muzaffarabad call” was perhaps enough to make a Confidence Building Measure look like surrender.
Patil’s appeal notwithstanding on August 11, lakhs of people from different parts of Valley trooped to the Line of Control along Jehlum Valley road in their symbolic march to Muzaffarabad. Security forces used force to thwart the attempt and 18 were killed in two days. Since then people in Kashmir Valley have been in toes fighting pitched battles with the forces. More than 40 have been killed in firing of security forces since August 11. |
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