Chamber hails Budget, Sikh body feels left out

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 18

The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) today welcomed the Budget announcements for J&K, but the All-Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) expressed dismay over the “exclusion” of the community.

PHDCCI JK chapter mentor Mushtaq Chaya said, “Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had presented a bottoms-up, inclusive, balanced and focussed Budget with a strong focus on socio-economic development of J&K to build a new India going forward”.

He said it would promote all-inclusive development in the economy. “The proposals unveiled in it on various socio-economic fronts of economy indicate promises of progress in coming times. The focus on employment, skill development, rural development, agriculture, horticulture, health sector, promotion and upgrade of tourism sector, agriculture, social welfare, handicraft, and handloom, development of infrastructure, would go a long way to promote all-inclusive development in the economy of J&K,” said Chaya.

“The infusion of capital of Rs 1,000 crore for improving banking services will enhance health of banks and push up the pace of lending in the economy by increasing the sentiments for credit availability,” he added.

However, All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said the Sikhs had been at the “receiving end more so during the present dispensation led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi”.

Referring to the Centre’s proposal to invest in three religious circuits, Raina demanded that necessary amendments should be made in the budgetary allocation. He said since many important historical gurdwaras were located in Jammu and Kashmir, it would be apt if a religious circuit was announced for the Sikhs as well.