Impose 100% import duty on foreign apples: CPI

Shopian, July 9: Demanding introduction of Market Intervention Scheme ( MIS) and crop insurance, senior CPI leader and former Rajya Sabha member Syed Aziz Pasha has said that the government should impose 100 percent import duty on foreign apples.

“The government removed the additional duty on Washington apples and allowed the imports from various countries like the US, Iran and South Africa. It has significantly impacted the domestic produce,” Pasha said while addressing a press conference in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.

He said that fruit growers suffered heavy losses over the last few years due to frequent closure of Jammu- Srinagar National Highway, price drop and climate change. “The government must roll out the MIS and MSP to alleviate the farmers’ distress”, Pasha said. Demanding immediate restoration of statehood, Pasha said that the government must start the democratic process in the region by conducting the assembly elections.

“It has been nearly a decade since the last assembly elections were held. The government must restore the statehood and hold the election by September as per the directions of the Supreme Court,” he said. Pasha said that the overwhelming participation of people during the recently held Lok Sabha polls was a positive sign and the restoration of full statehood before the polls would instill confidence among the people. Pasha said that CPI would also participate in the upcoming Assembly polls.

Replying to a question about the Indo-Pak relations, Pasha said that the people of both the countries wanted cordial relations with each other. “Both the countries need to take some confidence building measures to improve their relations. Pasha also appealed to the government to expedite the construction work on NH444.

Addressing the reporters, another CPI leader and general secretary National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) Annie Raja demanded the immediate release of youth languishing in different jails in and out side Jammu and Kashmir.

Raja, who fought Lok Sabha 2024 elections against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad parliamentary constituency, said that the cases of the incarcerated youth needed to be reviewed on the fast-track basis.

Expressing concern over the growing drug abuse, Annie said that the region “is caught in the throes of drug addiction. “Some women delegation called on me and they informed me about the rising substance abuse”, she said. She said that she was also informed about the high unemployment rates in the region.

“Unemployment is a national issue, but in Jammu and Kashmir it has become a more serious issue. Thousands of highly qualified youth are jobless and the issues have begun gnawing at them”, she said.