Business in Jammu burns in political fire

JAMMU KASHMIR, INDIA: The row in Jammu and Kashmir over the Amaranth land has come to a point where neither the government nor citizens can afford to keep up the situation any longer. On one hand, where business in the valley has come to a halt with both the transportation as well as consumer purchases coming to nil, the situation is turning into a tussle between the agitators and the police. Sensing the intensity of the matter, a few politicians also seem to be supporting this anti-government protest.

Partners in the cities are witnessing a 100 percent loss on the business front. The bandh, which has been running for almost two months, has completely ruined the social as well as economic dynamics of the two cities. The shut down of shops and all-day curfews have turned the region into a desert.

Sanjay Langer of Jammu-based AGM Sales Corporation informed that business has come to a stop here as the entire region has been closed off. “It’s been one and a half months and still no business is happening in the city. The situation will not stabilize until steps are taken at the central or the state government level, “ he said. 

He added that apart from the strikes in the city, it is also quarter ending period for vendors and hence there is heavy pressure on them to clear stocks. “We had to pick stock from vendors, which we now have to stock with us as no sales is taking place. This is leading to not just heavy loss but also mounting pressure for payment from the vendor’s side,” he averred.

Inderpal Singh of Jammu-based Aman Technologies said that business is being affected drastically as everything is impeded due to the bandhs. “ More than Rs 50-60 lakh of our business has been hit. Our all branches in the two cities are closed and this is resulting in zero business. Apart from that, we have around 50 staff in these branches who are not turning up due to the tense situation. However, the pressure of their salaries, i.e. Rs 5,000-6,000 each, is also building up on us,” said Singh.

Facing this fierce situation, partners are left with no option and are demanding immediate central government intervention in the matter.

Naveen Sharma, CEO, S&S Computers, Jammu said while the channel were all offering their support to the Amarnath land issue, it was time the government came to a resolution. Sharma said, “We have been facing huge losses in business in the quarter ending period, as not even a single shop is open in the city, but we see it as a sacrifice in the general interest of people in Jammu. The government should not keep the matter hanging any longer and should take some concrete step at the earliest.”

Talking about the losses being faced by the partner community, he added, “HP has recently raised the price of its printers and ink cartridges by 10 percent. Stocking the supply has become all the more difficult. We were forced by the vendor to pick up stocks of almost Rs 12 lakh, which couldn’t even be transported to the store. Apart from that, we have government supplies also, which we are not able to deliver in such conditions, and the total loss will be borne by us.”

Sharma said, “The ire is further taking shape of a tussle between the police and the common man, as recently during a protest march, the police opened fire and many people lost their lives. The situation needs the immediate attention of the government.” Agreeing to Sharma, Singh added, “We are a part and parcel of the society and have to support any move taken in the interest of the society. The common man has become a victim of the issue plotted by politicians.”

Meanwhile, instead of working in the direction of resolving the issue, the administration in the region has brought the lives of the people to a standstill by banning access to news channels in the region. “The region was put to a complete media ban, national TV channels ban and even SMS service was jammed by the administration to prevent any sort of communication by the agitators,” said Langer.