JAMMU, Nov 4: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party Provincial President Jammu, Manjit Singh, today expressed serious concern over the continued delay in announcing a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package for traders whose shops and business establishments were gutted in the devastating fire at Shiv Market, Jammu, and urged the UT as well as the Union Government to immediately come forward with adequate financial assistance to help the affected families rebuild their livelihoods before Diwali.
Questioning the absence of any concrete announcement despite repeated visits by senior government functionaries and political representatives, Manjit Singh said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, several other ministers, concerned departmental officials and BJP leaders, including elected MLAs, have visited the fire-ravaged market and interacted with the affected traders. However, the repeated inspections, expressions of sympathy and assurances of assistance have yet to translate into a definite compensation and rehabilitation package.
He said that while the visits of ministers and political representatives reflect their concern for the affected trading community, the foremost requirement at this critical juncture is tangible financial assistance rather than repeated assurances. The traders have suffered enormous losses, with several families losing their shops, merchandise, business assets and their principal source of income in a matter of hours.
Manjit Singh also expressed concern over the absence of any specific compensation announcement from the Union Government so far. He observed that despite Jammu and Kashmir having a Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh, who holds an important responsibility in the Prime Minister’s Office and represents the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency, no special financial assistance or Union-level relief package has been announced for the affected traders.
He urged Dr Jitendra Singh to take up the matter with the Prime Minister and the concerned Union Ministries and make sincere efforts to secure a special financial assistance package for the fire victims. He said that a devastating incident of this magnitude, affecting the livelihood of dozens of trading families in Jammu, deserves urgent attention at both the UT and Central levels.
The Apni Party leader pointed out that the affected traders cannot be expected to restart their businesses and meet their financial obligations merely on the strength of verbal assurances. Many of them have invested their lifetime savings in their establishments, while several families depend entirely on the income generated from these shops to meet household expenses, children’s education and other essential requirements.
He stressed that the UT Government must immediately announce a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package covering adequate compensation for the loss of shops, stocks, furniture, machinery and other commercial assets. The package should also include financial assistance for restarting businesses, interest concessions on existing bank loans, soft loans for reconstruction and necessary administrative support to facilitate the early restoration of commercial activities.
Manjit Singh further demanded that the district administration expedite the assessment of losses and ensure that all genuine affected traders are covered under the proposed relief mechanism. He said that compensation should be determined through a transparent assessment process and should be proportionate to the actual losses suffered by individual traders.
He also emphasised that the government should explore assistance through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, disaster relief mechanisms and other appropriate financial provisions so that immediate support can reach the victims without procedural complications.
Expressing disappointment over the delay, Manjit Singh said that the approaching Diwali makes the situation even more difficult for the affected families. The festive season, which traditionally brings fresh business opportunities and financial activity for traders, has instead become a period of uncertainty and hardship for those who lost everything in the fire.
He appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary to personally intervene and announce a time-bound relief and rehabilitation package before Diwali. He also called upon the Union Government and the concerned elected representatives to rise above political considerations and extend meaningful assistance to the affected trading community.
“The traders of Shiv Market do not need repeated visits and assurances alone; they need immediate financial assistance, a clear rehabilitation policy and a definite timeline for rebuilding their businesses. Their losses cannot be compensated through sympathy and statements. The government must translate its assurances into action,” Manjit Singh said.
He maintained that timely assistance would not only help the affected families regain their financial stability but also restore confidence among Jammu’s business community, which plays an important role in the economic activity of the region.