The Jammu chamber of commerce and industry (JCCI) called for Jammu bandh on Friday against the militant attack on a central reserve police force (CRPF) convoy in Lethpora area along the Srinagar-Jammu highway on Thursday.
Addressing journalists here, Rakesh Gupta, president of the JCCI, said the bandh would be peaceful.
“We have appealed to all the heads of prominent business associations of Jammu to cooperate with us in making the bandh peaceful,” Gupta said.
Asked whether transporters are also supporting their call, he said: “By this time, contact has not been established with any of the representatives of the transport bodies, but we will take them on board soon”.
Asked if the Kashmir chamber would also join the bandh, he said: “The president of the KCCI is outside the country and till that time I am the in-charge president KCCI. The KCCI also supports improvement in law and order situation in the state. Let the KCCI president return, we will clear their (KCCI) stand later”.
Gupta said the “law and order situation” in Jammu and Kashmir in general and Jammu region, in particular, was “going from bad to worse” and asked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “wake up from a deep slumber”.
“It’s high time that PM wakes up and takes stern action against those who attacked a CRPF convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar highway today. An exception should also be taken of the recent anti-national sloganeering in Jammu,” Gupta said.
The JCCI president said that attempts are being made by “certain anti-social elements” to destabilise the communal harmony in peaceful Jammu region, “but we will not let such elements succeed in their nefarious designs”.
HIGH COURT BAR ASSOCIATION JAMMU TO SUSPEND WORK
Meanwhile, High Court Bar Association Jammu (HCBAJ) Thursday decided to suspend work in all courts of Jammu as a mark of protest against killing of the CRPF troopers.
“The bar association has decided to take out a peaceful protest march tomorrow to condemn the dastardly act of militants and stand in solidarity with the families of the deceased soldiers,” said a statement issued by the HCBAJ,
Several political parties and trade federation have supported the Bandh call.
JKNPP chairman, Harsh Dev Singh termed the militant attack as “most heinous offence” perpetrated against the humanity.
Traders’ Federation Ware House-Nehru Market, Jammu, in an emergent meeting under its president Rattan Lal Gupta, extended support to Jammu Bandh call. In Kishtwar town, a call for Bandh has been given by Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Kishtwar, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and BJP. In Rajouri, Sunderbani and Thannamandi towns, over a dozen organisations have called for Bandh.