Last Updated on December 11, 2020 at 12:43 pm
After Article 370 was abrogated last year and Jammu and Kashmir made a Union Territory under direct control of BJP led central government, people in Jammu had though that the decades old discrimination with the region will end.
While the senior leaders of the party claim that Jammu has got its dues with “immense development” in the region, there seems to be an embedded discriminatory attitude among the bureaucrats towards Jammu who are focused only on Kashmir region. Also Read: Jammu again ignored; No mention of region’s Basmati Rice and Rajma by J&K Govt at UAE-India Food Security Summit
The recent example of discrimination with the Jammu region came to the fore in Dubai where a delegation of farmers, fruit growers and horticulturists led by Principal Secretary Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare Department, J&K, Navin K. Choudhary has gone to showcase the crops of J&K.
Choudhary even launched the GI Tagged Kashmir specific saffron in the markets of UAE and hoped that valley would get much needed business from the Arab country. Also Read: Is BJP trying to benefit from annulment of Roshni Act in DDC elections?
However the delegation that included most agriculturists from Kashmir only, forgot to display or mention about the world famous Rajma of Bhaderwah and Basmati rice of RS Pura in Jammu.
Kashmiri saffron was launched by the official delegation of J&K government with pomp and show in Dubai. This also led many from Jammu feel that discrimination with the region has not ended even after BJP’s promise to end it.
What is a GI tag?
A geographical indication (GI) tag is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. Saffron from Kashmir stall will remain available in Al Maya Supper Market, which is headed by Group Director Kamal Vachani, AL Maya Dubai, UAE.
“Pertinent to mention that a delegation of farmers, growers, businessmen and government officials from Jammu and Kashmir led by Navin Chaudhary, is participating in UAE-India Food Security Summit, 2020 with an aim to promote horticulture produce of Union Territory in the international market and tap the Gulf market” said an official statement by J&K government.
Delegates comprising prominent businessmen, investors and representatives of the public sector organizations, business entrepreneurs from J&K- Farooq Amin, Owais Altaf Bukhari, Umer Tramboo, Shahjahan, Sanjay Puri, Kulbhushan Khajuria, Shahid Kamili, Mushtaq Chaya, Mir Khurram, Ehsaan Javid, Maajid Waffai, Shahjahan, Manan Tramboo, Izhan Javeed also attended the event.
