Extend financial help to Kashmir without bias: Traders to FM

The Kashmir Economic Alliance (KEA) today urged Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to extend financial assistance to the Valley without any “bias”.
“We presume that walking an extra mile means that the prevailing political uncertainty in the state will be addressed, economic areas like horticulture, handicrafts, tourism, forests, industry and other sectors will be revived and strengthened, our power projects will be returned, draconian laws like AFSPA will be done away with, security forces will be made more accountable and adequate financial assistance will be extended without considerations and bias,” KEA chairman Mohammad Yaseen Khan said in a statement here today.
Khan was reacting to Jaitley’s statement that the Centre was “willing to walk an extra mile” for Jammu and Kashmir.
Stating that the state had been going through the worst kind of political uncertainty, impacting the economy adversely, Khan said the Centre had failed to address the genuine concerns of the people, especially in the wake of September 2014 floods.
“It becomes imperative to mention here that the region of Kashmir is the worst hit among the three regions and deserves focal and liberal attention of both state and Central Government. They should come forward and work for uplifting the ailing economy of the region,” he added.