Demand early restoration of trade link; threaten bigger agitation
The Indian Customs authorities have suspended Indo-Nepal trade in Jhulaghat border area in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.
The reason behind the suspension of trade in various items like wool and silk was not known. But the move has upset the local traders at Jhulaghat and nearby areas, prompting them to hold demonstration against the department.
Angry traders locked the local Customs office at Jhulaghat last evening after not getting a satisfactory reply on the suspension of Indo-Nepal trade.
Pithoragarh District Magistrate S S Negi said he was trying to ascertain reasons behind the suspension of trade from Jhulaghat but asserted that no major trade was being done between the two countries in this side of the border.
“I don’t think that there is any major trade is being done from Jhulaghat but we are finding out the reasons,” Negi said.
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However, Dharmanand Nariyal, president of Jhulaghat traders’ association, sought the intervention of the Uttarakhand government for the reopening of trade links between the two countries.
Nariyal said trade from Jhulaghat had been going on for ages and it had helped in establishing close ties between the two countries.
Nariyal also threatened to launch a big agitation in case the trade was not restored immediately.