Political heavyweights in Jammu and Kashmir, including members of the ruling National Conference, are vehemently condemning the ongoing closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. They assert that this shutdown, happening right in the middle of the crucial fruit harvesting season, is a calculated move to cripple the region’s economy. Their urgent demand is for the immediate passage of fruit-laden trucks to markets nationwide.
For days, countless trucks overflowing with fresh produce from Kashmir have been stuck in limbo, victims of the highway’s closure after a spell of intense rains and flash floods. This lengthy delay is causing deep concern among fruit growers, who fear their entire harvest could be lost.
Addressing reporters in Shopian, Ruhullah Mehdi, a Lok Sabha MP from the ruling National Conference, voiced strong accusations. He claimed a ‘deliberate pattern’ was at play, citing instances ranging from the sale of poor-quality pesticides and the import of cheaper apples to the recurrent highway closures. “Horticulture accounts for over 75% of our GDP, contributing seven times more than tourism,” Mehdi emphasized. “There’s a clear, ongoing campaign against our horticulture sector.”
The Srinagar MP highlighted a critical issue: even when sections of the highway are eventually opened, fruit trucks originating from Srinagar are still being denied passage to Jammu.
He questioned the discrepancy: “If trucks are permitted to travel from Jammu to Srinagar, why are our fruit-laden vehicles being held back?” He recounted similar incidents from a year prior where fruit trucks were intentionally halted, leading to widespread spoilage. “This isn’t random; it’s a calculated assault on our economy, and the highway closure is just another tactic,” he asserted, reiterating his belief that these actions are “deliberate.”
Meanwhile, PDP leader Iltija Mufti met with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to convey the severe crisis engulfing the Union Territory’s apple industry. She explained how the prolonged national highway closure over recent weeks has devastated growers.
According to Mufti, Lieutenant Governor Sinha assured her that efforts would be intensified to ensure the smooth flow of trucks on the highway, aiming to mitigate further economic damage.
The Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) echoed these sentiments, labeling the highway ‘blockade’ as nothing less than an ‘economic assault’ on Kashmir. They urgently called for the immediate dispatch of fruit-laden trucks to markets nationwide.
In a powerful demonstration, AIP activists organized a protest at the Press Colony, demanding prompt clearance for the fruit-laden trucks currently stranded on the highway.
Led by Langate MLA Sheikh Khursheed, numerous AIP activists chanted slogans like ‘Save Apple, Save Kashmir,’ accusing the administration of intentionally stifling the Valley’s horticulture economy.
Khursheed reiterated to reporters that the ongoing blockade constitutes “nothing short of an economic assault” on Kashmir.
He stressed the grave impact: “Millions of families rely on horticulture for their livelihoods. By allowing apple shipments to sit idle for days, the administration is quietly suffocating Kashmir’s economy. Empty rhetoric won’t rescue our growers; only swift, decisive action will make a difference.”
Following the protest, police intervened, dispersing the activists and detaining several party leaders, including MLA Khursheed.
Adding his voice to the growing chorus, M.Y. Tarigami, a senior CPI(M) leader and MLA from Kulgam, stated that the highway’s “prolonged closure” has severely impacted fruit growers in the Valley. He pressed the central government to take immediate action to ensure apple trucks can reach markets nationwide.
During a press conference, Tarigami emphasized, “The extended closure of the highway has dealt a heavy blow to farmers and fruit growers. Despite constant assurances from national highway authorities, the route remains unpredictable at a time when it is absolutely vital for our apple harvest to reach consumers across India.”
He reiterated his call for the central government to urgently facilitate the movement of apple trucks to their destinations.
The Kulgam MLA also noted that recent floods have inflicted widespread destruction, leading to significant loss of life, property, and standing crops throughout Jammu and Kashmir.
He pointed out the additional agricultural challenges: “Intermittent rains have caused leaves and apples to prematurely fall from trees, resulting in substantial losses for growers. The Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) should have provided timely guidance and preventive advice to farmers.”
Tarigami further highlighted that the recommendations from the Dr. Swaminathan Commission on distressed agriculture largely remain unaddressed. Despite Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand being severely affected, apples are still not included in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) recommendations.
He criticized the government’s crop insurance program: “Despite ambitious claims about the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY), our primary crop, apple production, remains uncovered. Crops with minimal risk are included, yet apples, our most vulnerable produce, are inexplicably excluded.”
Tarigami reported that “insurance companies and the Agriculture Insurance Company have reportedly collected hundreds of crores in premiums since 2016 but are still unwilling to insure apple crops.”
The CPI(M) leader urged the immediate reintroduction of the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS). This would allow for the procurement of damaged apples, which could then be utilized for juice and jam production, thereby mitigating waste.
He stressed that if the central government doesn’t back this initiative, the Union Territory administration must allocate funds through the CAPEX Budget to compensate affected growers.
The Kulgam MLA also highlighted the severe shortage of cold storage facilities in the Valley, despite previous announcements about available government land that could have been used for their construction.
He concluded with a powerful statement: “The government cannot afford to be indifferent. Safeguarding our horticulture is paramount to protecting the livelihoods of farmers, who are the very backbone of Kashmir’s economy.”
Finally, he called on the central government to announce substantial relief for flood victims, apple growers, and traders who have endured immense losses due to adverse weather, floods, and the crippling highway blockade.