Reliance Retail denies opening of 100 stores

Jammu: A shutdown will be observed today following a call by business fraternity of Jammu led by Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCI) Jammu in support of their cause, major amongst them is the anguish over proposed move of the government to open 100 Reliance stores in Jammu.
However, in response to query by this scribe, the Reliance Retail has issued a statement via email, "We have not opened any stores in Jammu. The talk of 100 stores being opened by us is completely untrue. We have a few delivery points in the UT of J&K. These are set up by our delivery partners to support the small traders of the UT.”
“Reliance has a long track record of supporting small traders. We remain steadfast in our commitment of partnering with small merchants,” added the Spokesperson, Reliance Retail.
Meanwhile, alleging that the proposal of big companies like Reliance to open stores in Jammu in the retail sector will ruin small local shopkeepers, Trader Associations like Federation of Retailers Association Jammu, Traders Federation Ware House Nehru Market Jammu, All J&K Banquet Halls Association, Hardware, Paint and Sanitary Dealers Association, have extended their support to Jammu Bandh.
Barring Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), political parties like National Conference (NC), Jammu Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Apni Party (AP), Communist Party of India (CPI), Dogra Front, Shiv Sena, IkkJutt Jammu have also joined in against the ‘anti-trade and commerce policies of the government that are hurting the overall interests of local people’.
Meanwhile, some bodies such as Old City Shopkeepers Association, (which includes Moti Bazar, Jain Bazar, Link Road, Purani Mandi, Raj Tilak Road, Old Hospital Road, Peer Mitha), and Transporters Association have decided not to support the shutdown.
The Jammu Bandh call is also to express displeasure against treatment meted out to wine shop owners, liquor bar owners, banquet hall owners, and those associated with sand mining, crushers and Brick kiln trade. The Chamber also opposes end to decade-long annual Darbar Move practice saying it has badly hit the trade and regional bonding.
Moreover, the Chamber questions the debarring Mahajan, Khatri, Sikh and Jain communities from purchasing agricultural lands in J&K; passenger tax on commercial vehicles; and outreach programs and other initiatives of Government of India meant for Kashmir.
“Looking into such prejudice with the people of Jammu region in general and traders in particular, the CCI(J) has decided to go on an agitation path and the first step in this regard is one-day Jammu Bandh. The government should awaken from its deep slumber and not take Jammu for granted any more,” asserted members of the Chamber.