9-member business advisory panel set-up

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Wednesday formed a business advisory committee after some BJP MLAs locked horns with the ruling National Conference members over the issue.

- HT Correspondent

JAMMU: The deputy chief minister (CM) Surinder Choudhary on Wednesday said that those who set up industries in Jammu and Kashmir will have to provide employment to local youth.

Responding to queries raised by BJP MLA Rajiv Jasrotia and NC MLAs Saif-ud-Din Bhat and Mubarak Gul during question hour in the legislative assembly here, Choudhary said, "The house has a genuine concern. The local youth have suffered over the years but the Omar Abdullah government is committed to its promise of creating job avenues for our youth. If anyone has to invest in the industrial sector, they have to provide employment to local youth."

"Investors will have to provide employment to local youth and we will ensure this," he added.

Choudhary informed the House that the Omar government has laid special emphasis on the industrial sector.

Replying to a supplementary question by Jasrotia, Choudhary further said, "We will not allow the lands of the people of J&K to be given to outsiders. Whatever is right will be done."

"We want development of the industries but not at the expense of our people," he added.

He informed the house that CM Omar held meetings with various stakeholders in the industrial sector.