jj correspondent
Kulgam, Sep 27: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday threatened to sit on a protest on the national highway along with fruit growers if the authorities failed to let fruit laden trucks reach their destinations.
“I warn the Jammu and Kashmir administration that if you fail to open the Srinagar-Jammu highway for the smooth movement of the fruit trucks, I along with the fruit growers will block the highway in protest,” the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said.
Kashmir’s apple industry — the mainstay of its economy — is facing a major crisis over the last month as hundreds of fruit trucks are halted frequently along the Srinagar-Jammu highway in the name of movement of security forces. In the process, most apples start rotting.
Angry growers on Monday shut all the major wholesale fruit markets in Kashmir including the one at Sopore. The trucks are halted frequently between Qazigund and Banihal.
On Monday, the authorities issued orders to clear all fruit trucks from the highway. Mehbooba Mufti reached Shopian on Tuesday morning to stand in solidarity with the apple growers.
She demanded to know how essential items from Jammu will reach the valley on time if fruit trucks are stalled in the name of highway repair.
“Stopping fruit trucks to allow the movement of Army convoys is just to cause losses to the fruit industry of Kashmir. I urge and simultaneously warn you (Lt Governor), don’t test the patience of the Kashmiri people… these people are very gentle and don’t force them to come on the roads for which all responsibility will fall on the authorities,” she warned.
“You have turned the Kashmir Valley into a prison,” she said. “You are claiming everything is all right in Kashmir. Tell me, who will bear the losses of these fruit growers?” UNI
