Kashmir's business bodies seek PM's help in harassment issue

Srinagar, Jan 14 (UNI) The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) have urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to prevent the alleged harassment of traders from the Valley in other states of the country.

In a statement here, the KCCI and the FCIK strongly condemned the alleged harassment of businessmen from the Valley by police outside Jammu and Kashmir.

Terming as ''unfortunate'' the recent arrest of four Kashmiri businessman at Belary in Karnataka, the FCIK alleged that people from the Valley, including students, businessmen, scholars and those looking for jobs in different states, face continuous harassment at the hands of the security agencies.

''The arrests have shocked all Kashmiris and perturbed parents whose wards are studying in different parts of India,'' it added.

The FCIK said the incidents negated assurances by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad that the state government and police authorities would be taken into confidence before any Kashmiri was arrested in any state of India.

In a separate statement, the KCCI said it would soon take up the matter with the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to seek assurances from them that Kashmiri businessmen would not be harassed in any part of India.

''We have assured the Kashmir Association in Bangalore, one of the affiliated associations of the KCCI, of all help from the chamber,'' the statement said.

The KCCI said it would go to any possible extent to safeguard not only the economic interests of the Kashmiri businessmen, but their security as well.

The statement said any trader facing such problems should bring it to the notice of the KCCI so that the issue was raised with the authorities concerned.

The KCCI also appealed to the state government to take necessary measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

UNI