SRINAGAR: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday slammed the union government for the tax waiver on several United States products including apples, and walnuts and threatened to hit the streets if it is not rolled back.

“When the concessions were announced during the G20, it wasn't thought what impact it would have on our economy. Not only J&K but it will also affect Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand,” Abdullah said here.

Last week the Union Finance Ministry, in a notification announced the removal of additional duties on several US products including chickpeas, lentils (masur), apples, walnuts in shells, and fresh or dried almonds, as well as shelled almonds. The notification came a day before US President Joe Biden's arrival in India for the G20 Summit.

Abdullah alleged the Union government to appease the US wanted to finish the local growers

“Horticulture is the major economy of J&K. To appease the US, they want to finish the local growers. I appeal to the Government of India to not take a step that would increase the poverty that is already here and we get stuck in another crisis...If they don't make it easy for the people, we will take to the street and protest," the Member of Parliament said.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who on Monday urged the Prime Minister to reconsider the decision, on Tuesday alleged that the move was aimed at destroying J&K economy.

"J&K has been going through a tough time for the last 30-40 years and the fruit industry is an industry which kept J&K alive all these years... And I think (reducing the additional duties on US products) is being done deliberately," she said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC) also voiced profound concern regarding the decision to remove a 20% duty on apple imports from the United States.

JKPC said the government's foremost priority should be to safeguard the interests of local apple growers and farmers.

In a statement,JKPC Senior Vice President Abdul Gani Vakil said apple cultivation holds an integral position within the state's agricultural landscape, playing a pivotal role in our economy and providing livelihoods to numerous farming families.

“..Our apple industry has already been facing immense hardships for the last 5 years with COVID and weather vagary has resulted in huge losses. This move will further aggravate the problem and put our growers at a disadvantage”, he added.

Apni Party's General Secretary, Rafi Ahmad Mir, expressed grave concern over the Union Government's decision

He said the move would adversely impact apple and walnut growers in Kashmir, as well as growers in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Mir urged the Union Government to reconsider its decision (UNI)

SRINAGAR: National Conference president and member of parliament Farooq Abdullah on Monday said the Karnataka election results signify the victory of religious harmony and love.

"Elections are the root and foundation of democracy", Farooq told mediapersons on the sidelines of an event in Pinglish in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district today. He said that the victory of Congress in Karnataka is actually a victory of the principles of love and religious harmony and this election has proved that the people have rejected the politics of division, bullying and communalism.

“Through elections a clean and transparent government is established and people choose their real representatives”, Farooq said.

He said that the survival of India's freedom and democracy lies in the equal treatment of the people of all sections of the country and ensuring the religious freedom of the people belonging to any religion under the Constitution of India.

In response to the question asked about the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting which is going to be held here, Farooq said that it is a matter of happiness that the G20 meeting is being held here and its main purpose is to promote tourism.

Asked about the high air travel fares Farooq expressed his anger over the sky-high air fares and said that due to the exorbitant air fares, the local people are facing great hardships and there is a hindrance in the arrival of tourists in Kashmir.

He said that the air ticket, which should cost 4 thousand rupees, is being sold for 24 thousand today.

He said “we have repeatedly raised the issue with the central government but unfortunately they only give us assurances but practically nothing is being done”.

The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said that “I once again appeal to the central government to take concrete and effective measures to moderate the air fares for the valley”. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: National Conference President and Member of Parliament Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said the government of India was only giving one or other excuses on holding Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Center is saying the situation has normalized in Jammu and Kashmir. One of our local IGs says that militancy has declined but is not over. Why this double talk? If the indices of security have improved then what is holding them back from holding elections?,” Abdullah said while speaking to journalists during his visit to south Kashmir’s Anantnag district,
“ First it was security then it was the weather. Now that the weather is clear and the security situation admittedly better. What is it then? When we visited the Election Commission, we were told that the delimitation exercise, and voter lists have been completed. All they are doing is manage new excuses every day to delay Assembly elections,” he said.
While responding to a question on the removal of chapters relating to Mughal history from NCERT books, he said, it is a “sheer mockery”.
“What are we going to tell visitors who built the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri and many other fascinating buildings/structures? How will you hide the architectural and cultural insignias of Mughals spread across the country? It's there to remain. People come and go, but history remains unchanged,” he asked.
Earlier Abdullah visited Kokernag to commiserate with senior leader Choudhary Zaffar Ali Khatana on the demise of his brother Choudhary Amjad Ali Khatana. (UNI)