Asom traders form Assam Chambers of Commerce

Guwahati, June 4: Asom Traders have floated a new apex organisation - the Assam Chambers of Commerce (ACC) to reinforce the business community which has borne the brunt of recurring incidents of violence in the state.

Two days after the Asom police listed four top businessmen of the state as having nexus with the proscribed ULFA, traders from across the state assembled here yesterday to form the new state level body.

''The new body will work for the welfare of the business sector and coordinate between the government and the traders,'' said Rupam Goswami, convener of the ACC.

He said earlier the voice of the traders were limited, but now they can come out emboldened against the violence which had wreaked havoc in the business sector.

The main business hub of the North East, the Fancy Bazar area dominated mostly by Hindi-speaking people, in Guwahati had been the prime target of the ULFA, with militants exploding at least 16 bombs in and around the area in the last three months, killing more than 20 people.

Mr Goswami said around 70 per cent of the business in the North East are controlled in this hub, which records a daily transaction of over Rs 100 crore.

However, the trade had come down to 50 per cent in wake of the recurring incidents of violence in the last three months, Mr Goswami said, adding investors and suppliers were reluctant to come into the state.

The new state-level organisation would be staging a dharna at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on June 7 demanding President's Rule in the state and immediate restoration of peace and normalcy.

''The Kamrup Chambers of Commerce, an organisation of the traders of Guwahati, had failed to represent the voice of the state. The new socio-economic body would be looking to create public awareness against insurgency. It would serve as a common platform to fight terror,'' ACC joint convener Onkarmal Agarwalla said.

Significantly, the Kamrup Chambers of Commerce (KCC) had been excluded from the new organization.

Mr Goswami said the 'dictatorship' and 'monopoly' of the KCC had a hand in encouraging the terror elements, adding, ''It has failed to raise the voice of traders.'' On the alleged nexus between ULFA and some traders, the ACC convenor said the reports were propaganda to break the unity of the traders.

''If there is really anyone having links with the militants, the police should reveal their names and bring them to book,'' he added.

UNI