Sopore’s silent mandi reflects Kashmir’s growing anger over highway blockade

Sopore, Sept 15: The Sopore fruit mandi, Asia’s second-largest fresh fruit market, wore an unusual look of silence on Monday, reflecting the mounting anger of Kashmir’s fruit growers over the blockade of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway.

In line with a Valley-wide two-day call for closure of all mandis across Kashmir on September 14 and 15, the Sopore mandi remained shut as growers staged peaceful protests against what they termed “government indifference” toward the plight of horticulturists.

Hundreds of growers, dealers, traders, and other stakeholders assembled at the mandi gates, carrying placards and raising slogans demanding unhindered passage for fruit-laden trucks stranded for days on the highway. The protest lasted for about an hour before dispersing peacefully.

“Lakhs of families depend on horticulture. Yet our fruit trucks are stopped on the highway without reason. We are losing crores every day. If this continues, it will ruin Kashmir’s horticulture sector,” said Fayaz Ahmad Malik, President of Sopore Fruit Mandi, while addressing the gathering.

Traders associated with the fruit industry in north Kashmir strongly criticized the government and local representatives for their "silence" over the continuing blockade of the highway, which they said has left thousands of apple-laden trucks stranded for the last ten days.

Mudasir Ahmad Bhat, President of the Buyers and Forwarding Agents Union at Sopore mandi, questioned the “double standards” of the administration, pointing out that while a collapsed bridge in Jammu was rebuilt within 24 hours, no such urgency is being shown in restoring the Valley’s only all-weather road link.

“It is shameful that our Chief Minister, along with 60 MLAs from Kashmir, are not even bothered to talk about the blockade. They should all resign if they cannot ensure smooth passage of the Valley’s economic lifeline,” Malik said.

Expressing resentment, he added that despite restrictions, trucks loaded with cement and iron are being allowed to move toward Kashmir, while apple trucks worth crores of rupees remain halted. “This discriminatory treatment is unacceptable and has already caused huge losses to fruit growers,” Malik stressed, demanding immediate clearance of stranded consignments.

“Our consignments are perishable. Every hour of delay means huge losses. Already, we estimate losses of over ₹1,200 crore this season. The government is watching silently, without any concrete plan,” said Saif-ud-Din Bhat, a grower from Sopore.

Other fruit growers and dealers echoed similar concerns, saying the protest was aimed at highlighting the massive financial hit caused by delays in transporting apples to outside markets.

The empty Sopore mandi, which usually bustles with the arrival of thousands of apple boxes during this season, stood as a stark symbol of the growers’ frustration.