Srinagar, Sep 16 : Srinagar Member of Parliament, Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, on Tuesday criticised the Omar Abdullah-led government for its handling of the ongoing closure of the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway during the peak apple harvest season.
Addressing a press conference, Ruhullah said the road blockade has caused immense disruption to growers who rely on timely transportation of fruit to markets in Delhi and other parts of the country.
He said that if political representatives remain silent at this stage, they will also face consequences. “If they remain silent at this time, then it will be their turn. If they don’t, then all of us will have to stand up for this. There is a struggle going on,” he added, as per KNS Correspondent.
Ruhullah noted that horticulture, agriculture, and allied sectors account for more than 75 percent of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy. According to him, horticulture contributes seven times more than tourism. He said growers are being repeatedly targeted through disruption of transport.
“There is a struggle going on with our horticulture. There is a question, that even today, despite all the chaos, when the Srinagar–Jammu highway has been opened, the traffic is still not allowed. Our trucks, which are stuck, are not allowed to go from Srinagar to Jammu. In the same way, last year or the year before that, trucks were deliberately stopped on the highway until our products and fruits rotted,” he said.
He called this a recurring pattern that continues to harm the state’s economy. Ruhullah added that discussions have taken place with the administration, fruit growers’ associations, and legislators. “They have tried, they have heard the discussion, and today, the trucks are allowed to go through Mughal Road. I hope that in the same way, trucks will be allowed to go through Srinagar–Jammu National Highway as soon as possible, and our fruits will be available,” he said.(KNS).
