Omar orders stringent action against sale of counterfeit Kashmiri carpets

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday took strong exception to the sale of counterfeit machine-made carpets being falsely marketed as authentic Kashmiri hand-knotted products.

He directed the Industries and Commerce Department to take stringent action against showrooms and retailers involved in this deceptive practice.

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“Passing off machine-made carpets as handmade not only misleads consumers, but also threatens the global reputation of Kashmiri craftsmanship and the livelihood of our artisans,” the chief minister said, underlining the urgency of protecting the GI-certified Kashmiri carpet industry.

A joint delegation comprising members of the Carpet Export Promotion Council, Indian Silk Export Promotion Council, Meeras Carpet Weavers Cooperative, Kashmir Carpet Cluster Development Organization, and Kashmir Carpet Manufacturers Association met the Chief Minister at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar.

The delegation demanded a complete ban on the sale of machine-made carpets in all handicraft-registered outlets, and called for robust enforcement mechanisms to curb misuse of the GI tag.

They warned that the continued infiltration of counterfeit products could deal a serious blow to Kashmir’s cultural heritage and the thousands of families who depend on carpet weaving for their sustenance.