Jammu: Congress IIOJK President Hameed Karra has called for the resumption of cross-LoC trade, which was halted by the BJP-led Indian government in 2019.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, Karra addressed a district convention in Poonch as part of the Congress’s 15-day campaign, “Hamari Riyasat Hamara Haq” (our state our right). The campaign aims to press for the early restoration of statehood to occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Karra urged the government to explore all possibilities for resuming cross-border trade to improve the region’s economy. He criticized the suspension, noting it was based on unfounded allegations when New Delhi halted the trade and travel in April 2019 from Salamabad-Uri and Chakan-Da-Bagh in Poonch.

Further criticizing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Karra accused it of “betraying and disempowering” Kashmir’s residents by bifurcating the territory. He alleged that India has used “deceitful tactics to befool the people.”

“The patience of the people here is running out,” he stated, emphasizing that Jammu and Kashmir’s residents will not tolerate such tactics from the BJP.

Karra also highlighted the BJP’s neglect of the Poonch-Rajouri border belt in terms of infrastructure development, employment, and overall governance.