Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): Peoples Democratic Party president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday urged the BJP-led government to resume the cross-LoC trade and stop raiding the traders who were associated with this barter business. The LoC trade which was started between India and Pakistan through Uri-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalkote in 2005 as a confidence building measure between India and Pakistan by the then NDA government.
However, the Centre stopped the bus service and trade in 2019 alleging that some unscrupulous and anti-national elements were using the route as a conduit for Hawala money, drugs, and weapons, under the garb of trade.
Mufti wrote a letter to union Home Minister Amit Shah saying the cross-LoC trade and travel has been the biggest confidence-building measure (CBM) ever between India and Pakistan and had opened new vistas of peacebuilding in J-K and the subcontinent that has the potential of bringing sustainable peace to the region if carried forward.
The PDP president, while addressing a press conference here over the issue, said the traders associated with the cross-LoC trade were in distress, and facing hardships.
Mufti alleged the traders were being “harassed” by the Income Tax Department with notices demanding tax payments for transactions that were non-monetary and did not involve any taxation at the time.
“This trade was based on a barter system and was free trade without any scope for tax that time. But, for some time now, they are being troubled by the Income Tax department. They have been facing IT raids, notices seeking GST, and demand for tax for the whole trade during all those years. Where will they get the tax?” she added.
The former chief minister appealed to the Union Home Minister to immediately intervene in the issue and have a relook at the closure of the trade.
Hundreds of families are associated with it. So, I appeal to the Home Minister to immediately intervene so that they get some relief, she added. The PDP chief said there is no better way to bring two Kashmirs together and address the issues in J-K.
It can be a huge CBM if it is taken to the next step, Mufti said