JAMMU, Nov 10: Sunil Dimple, President of Mission Statehood, has strongly condemned the devastating fire incidents that gutted several shops in Warehouse and Shiv Market, Jammu, and demanded compensation of ₹1 crore for each affected shopkeeper to help them recover their losses and rebuild their businesses.
Expressing concern over the damage caused by the fire, Dimple said that the affected traders had suffered huge financial losses and the government must come forward with immediate financial assistance. He stressed that the shopkeepers should not be left to struggle alone during this difficult time.
Taking a political dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Dimple alleged that the party’s leaders and 29 BJP MLAs were politicising the situation instead of ensuring meaningful assistance to the affected traders. He also accused the Chamber of Commerce and the Warehouse Traders’ Federation of acting under the influence of the BJP.
Dimple further alleged that the Warehouse Traders’ Federation was unnecessarily creating confrontations with government representatives, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, ministers and leaders of the National Conference, PDP, Congress and other organisations who visited the affected market to express solidarity with the shopkeepers.
Questioning the authority of the Federation over the market premises, Dimple asked whether the land belonged to the Federation and whether it possessed the relevant land records, including Fard and Intiqal, establishing its ownership. He questioned why the Federation’s president was allegedly engaging in arguments with ministers and political leaders visiting the affected traders, while maintaining a different approach towards BJP MLAs.
Dimple maintained that every political leader, minister, public representative and social organisation has the democratic right to visit the affected market and extend support to the suffering traders. He said that such visits should be welcomed rather than turned into political confrontations.
He also accused the Chamber of Commerce and Warehouse Traders’ Federation of previously facilitating the installation of smart meters by distributing them through their office and opening passages for their installation across the Jammu region.
Targeting the BJP leadership further, Dimple alleged that BJP MLAs, the Lieutenant Governor and the Union Home Minister had failed to provide adequate financial assistance to flood victims and shopkeepers affected in Shiv Market. He expressed apprehension that Warehouse traders might also be deprived of adequate compensation.
Dimple said that the immediate priority should be the rehabilitation of fire-affected shopkeepers, restoration of their livelihoods and provision of adequate compensation without political discrimination. He urged the government to intervene urgently and ensure that all affected traders receive the financial assistance they deserve.