Srinagar, July 17: The Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), Valley’s apex industrial chamber, today urged the government of India to announce and initiate meaningful and unconditional dialogue with the “relevant state leadership” to help resolve the political crisis, and put end to perpetual bloodshed in Kashmir.
 The chamber in a statement today said: “A unanimous resolution to the effect was passed by the executive council of the federation at a meeting held under the chairmanship of speaker FCIK Manzoor Ahmad Qadiri.”
 The meeting, according to the FCIK, was called to discuss the current situation in Kashmir.
 The meeting was attended by office bearers of FCIK including its president Shakeel Qalander, presidents of various industrial estates, district and segment based associations from across the valley.
 The members said the peace in the state was a distant dream until the internal and external dimensions to the Kashmir problem were addressed and trust deficit removed.
 The members expressed deep concern over the killing of 15 young children during past one month in “excessive police action” at various places in the Valley and demanded suspension of the accused in order to pave way for an impartial inquiry.
 The members conveyed their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the peace of the deceased.
 The members observed that the perpetual financial losses incurred by enterprises, although huge, were too small against the losses of precious human lives and education of children that could never be recouped.
 The members passed a resolution supporting freedom of press and opposing any restriction on print and electronic media.
 Speaking on the occasion, Qalandar said the FCIK was abreast of the difficulties and hardships the enterprises including industrial units, service units, retail enterprises, construction firms, transporters etc were facing. He said such enterprises were employing more than 10 lakh people in the Valley. “It is the duty of all district and estate based associations to ensure that these employees and their families do not face starvation in absence of food grains and money,” he said, while advising the association heads to help the needy micro and small units through community arrangements. He said in absence of peaceful and conducive environment, it was hard for any enterprise to function normally not to speak of its flourishing and as such the larger factor responsible for unrest needed to be addressed.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 17 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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