Riyadh [Saudi Arabia], August 10 (ANI/PRNewswire): More than half a million people will descend on the 2022 International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition, the world's largest falconry event, taking place from August 25-September 3.

Kathmandu [Nepal], December 23 (ANI): Indian companies are looking towards the Nepali market to expand their business as the post-COVID scenario continues to improve the economic conditions and increase developmental activities in the Himalayan Nation.

Jammu Sep 22 PTI Normal life was hit across the Jammu region on Wednesday amid a day-long strike call given by the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries JCCI to protest against the alleged directionless anti-trade policies of the administration The strike which evoked widespread support from almost all opposition political parties and social groups remained peaceful with no untoward incident reported from anywhere officials said The work in courts was affected by the strike which was also supported by the Jammu chapter of the JK High Court Bar Association The main markets in the city wore a deserted look as shops and business establishments including retail chemist shops were closed while the movement of public and private transport was thin Protests and rallies at various places by traders activists of National Panthers Party NPP Peoples Democratic Party PDP Aam Aadmi Party and Dogra Front in the city marked the strike which was the first of its kind in the Jammu province after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 Among other things the sponsors of the strike are agitated over the scrapping of the darbar move by the government without consulting the stakeholders and new excise policy rendering wine shopkeepers jobless Other issues which triggered the strike included the new Geology and Mining policy restrictions on banquet halls and proposed opening of the Reliance Retail stores chain even as the company on Tuesday evening clarified that the talk of 100 stores being opened in Jammu is completely untrue We have not opened any stores in Jammu and the talk of 100 stores being opened is completely untrue a Reliance Retail spokesperson had said We have a few delivery points in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and these are set up by our delivery partners to support the small traders it had added The business house had claimed that it has a track record of supporting small traders and we remain steadfast in our commitment of partnering with small merchants Leading a rally outside the Chamber House here JCCI president Arun Gupta however described the statement of Reliance Retail as misleading and said We are all united and will continue our struggle to safeguard the interests of the people of Jammu region This government is deaf and dumb and had miserably failed to fulfil its responsibility to safeguard the interests of the traders They Reliance Retail are claiming that they are not opening the stores but the situation on the ground is different he said amid chants of slogans against the opening of Reliance Retail stores and alleged discrimination with Jammu He thanked the people for making the strike successful but said the motive of the JCCI was in no way to oppose the government as far as the abrogation of Article 370 is concerned as some sections in the political circles are trying to portray The only reason behind this resentment is the lopsided policies of the JK government towards the business community of the Jammu region he said Another group of traders led by the Traders Federation WareHouse president Deepak Gupta staged a protest at Nehru Market while the Chemist Association led by General Secretary Prem Sharma also took to streets near the Exhibition ground terming the statement of the Reliance retail as an eyewash We are concerned about 50000 small shopkeepers who will be rendered jobless if Reliance opens its retail stores We will not tolerate any decision which we feel is against the interests of the people of the Jammu business community Gupta said Activists of the NPP PDP AAP and Dogra front also staged protests in support of the traders We are supporting the strike call given by traders on genuine concerns of the business community and wrong policies of the government NPP chairman and former minister Harsh Dev Singh said as activists of the party displayed placards demanding restoration of statehood to JK A group of AAP activists were briefly detained at the citys Gandhi Nagar police station when they tried to take out a march from there to Dogra Chowk in the city the officials said Congress National Conference CPIM Lok Janshakti Party besides several social groups had supported the strike and urged the government to roll back the decisions which are against the legitimate interests of trade and commerce The officials said police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in strength in sensitive areas to maintain law and order Official reports spoke of shutdown and peaceful protests in various district headquarters across Jammu province PTI TAS AB RAX RAX

Jammu Sep 22 PTI Normal life was hit across the Jammu region on Wednesday amid a day-long strike call given by the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries JCCI to protest against the alleged directionless policies of the administration The strike which evoked widespread support from almost all opposition political parties and social groups remained peaceful with no untoward incident reported from anywhere officials said The work in courts was affected by the strike which was also supported by the Jammu chapter of JK High Court Bar Association The main markets in the city wore a deserted look as shops and business establishments including retail chemist shops were closed while the movement of public and private transport was thin Protests and rallies at various places by traders and activists of National Panthers Party NPP in the city marked the strike which was the first of its kind in the Jammu province after the abrogation of Article 370 Among other things the sponsors of the strike are agitated over the scrapping of darbar move by the government without consulting the stakeholders new Geology and Mining policies restrictions on banquet halls and proposed opening of chain of Reliance Retail stores even as the company on Tuesday evening clarified that that the talk of 100 stores being opened in Jammu is completely untrue Leading a rally outside the Chamber house here JCCI president Arun Gupta described the statement of Reliance Retail as misleading and said we are all united and will continue our struggle to safeguard the interests of the people of Jammu region This government is deaf and dumb and had miserably failed to fulfil its responsibility to safeguard the interests of the traders They Reliance Retail are claiming that they are not opening the stores but the situation on the ground is different he said amid chants of slogans against opening of Reliance Retail stores and alleged discrimination with Jammu Another group of traders led by president of Traders Federation WareHouse Deepak Gupta staged a protest at Nehru Market while the Chemist Association led by General Secretary Prem Sharma also took to streets near the Exhibition ground terming the statement of the Reliance retail as an eye wash We are concerned about 50000 small shopkeepers who will be rendered jobless if Reliance opens its retail stores We will not tolerate any decision which we feel is against the interests of the people of Jammu business community Gupta said Activists of the NPP also staged protests in support of the traders and restoration of statehood We are supporting the strike call given by traders on genuine concerns of the business community and wrong policies of the government NPP chairman and former minister Harsh Dev Singh said Almost all opposition political parties including Congress National Conference Peoples Democratic Party PDP Apni Party CPIM Lok Janshakti Party besides several social groups had supported the strike and urged the government to roll back the decisions which are against the legitimate interests of trade and commerce The officials said police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in strength in sensitive areas to maintain law and order PTI TAS AB DRR DRR