JAMMU: Alleging that the Government was decimating local businessmen for settling outsiders in J&K, Jammu wine Traders Association has demanded continuation of existing Excise Policy.
“Ever since the scrapping of Special Status under Article 370 and 35-A, this Government is hell bent to decimate local traders and businessmen for settling outsiders here,” said Charanjeet Singh, President of Jammu Wine Traders Association (JWTA), while talking to media persons, here on Tuesday. While elaborating, he said that the locals doing business before August 5, 2019 were being treated as a lobby and the Government wanted to decimate them for the reasons best known to those at the helm of affairs.
“First they (Govt) targeted Geology and Mining Department and intruded big contractors from Punjab and Haryana States and now local wine traders are being decimated for accommodating outsiders,” said Charanjeet Singh. Lamenting that the Government was not listening to their grievances and view point, the wine traders also alleged that Lt Governor J&K refused to meet them despite repeated requests for the same. “This Government seems to have made up its mind to settle outsiders in J&K and render local traders jobless as none of us can afford to compete in the e-auction since we are small traders who earn their livelihood from this business and our income is just to bear their day today expenses,” said the Association president, informing that 30,000 families are directly or indirectly involved in earning their livelihood from this business and most of the present licensees are widows, senior citizens and unemployed youth who have no other source of income. Pertinent to mention that the Draft Excise Policy for 2021-22 envisages allotment of liquor shops to the residents of the Union Territory through e-auction.
The liquor vends shall be allotted for a period of one year and only a single outlet will be allotted to one person. Demanding continuation of the existing policy, the Association president.
