The blockade continues, this time by the Govt. of India

Growers miffed at ‘exclusion’ of Kashmir fruits

Greater Kashmir Sept 15
‘It will be construed as official economic blockade’

ARIF SHAFI WANI


LoC Trade
Srinagar, Sep 14: The fruit growers of Kashmir are up in arms against the government for its reported move to exclude the fruits from the list of items finalized for cross-LoC trade saying it will be construed as “official economic blockade.”
Reacting to media reports about the list, the fruit growers termed it as a conspiracy. “We are shocked to learn that fruits have been excluded from the list. Over 60 Kashmiris have laid down their lives for opening of cross-LoC trade. We are ready to offer more sacrifices for export of fruit. It is not merely a matter of business but our self-respect and identity,” president of Kashmir Fruit Growers Association, Ghulam Rasool Bhat, told Greater Kashmir.
Following a mass uprising against the economic blockade to the Valley, the government of India on September 4 has proposed to open the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Road and other routes along the line of control for trade with Pakistan and Pak-administered Kashmir from October 1.
The minister for external affairs, Pranab Mukherjee, recently stated that he had made a formal request to Pakistan for revival of the cross-LoC trade. Reports said India had submitted a list of 14 items for import including precious stones, namdas and embroidery works. Similarly, 23 items have been short-listed for export. These include carpets, rugs and shawls, but intriguingly exclude fruits for which the valley is famous all over the world.
“We know why Indian leadership does not want us to export our fruits through LoC. They are killing two birds with one stone. They want to appease the international community by restoring the cross-LoC trade and on the other hand punish the fruit growers for raising voice against economic blockade,” Bhat said.
“We are being punished for giving a call for Srinagar-Muzaffarabad march on August 11. India wants Kashmiris, whose economy is considerably dependent on horticulture, to starve. I want to tell India that Kashmir contributes 24 per cent of its GDP. Stopping us from exporting the fruit through LoC will be considered as ‘official’ economic blockade,” he said.
Pertinently, due to its unique eco-system, Kashmir produces quality apple, pear and other temperate fruits which are in demand not only in India but abroad. With over 70 per cent of Kashmiris directly and indirectly dependent on the fruit sector, it is considered to be the backbone of Kashmir’s economy.
According to estimates, the Valley exports nearly seven lakh metric tons of fruits outside the state. The fruit growers said they have been incurring huge losses due to what they termed as sustained and planned attacks on the fruit laden trucks from Kashmir during more than two months past.
“The Government has kept us out of the meetings held to finalize the trade list. Instead, they have been talking to some self-proclaimed representatives of fruit growers who have been working against the interests of the fruit industry,” Bhat said.
Bhat said if the government did not clarify its position on the exclusion of fruits from the trade list, the growers would be compelled to launch a fresh agitation. “And, in that event, the government will be squarely responsible for the consequences,” he added.