Sept 16: The blockade of National Highway 1A during the peak fruit season is nothing short of a deliberate and intentional economic crackdown on the innocent people of Kashmir. Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) strongly condemns the continuous disruption of road connectivity that has left thousands of apple-laden trucks stranded for weeks, leading to the rotting of produce and losses worth billions for Kashmir’s fruit growers and traders.
Today, AIP leadership, including MLA Langate Sheikh Khurshid, along with dozens of our senior leaders and functionaries, staged a peaceful protest in Srinagar against the UT administration’s gross negligence and failure to restore vital road links. Instead of addressing this grave issue, police resorted to arrests. Our leaders and activists were detained while raising the genuine concerns of the people.
Those arrested include Ishtiaq Hussain Qadri, Firdous Ahmad Baba, Shokat Ahmad Pandit, Prof. Nasser Ahmad Rather, Ajaz Ahmad Lone (PRO to Engineer Rashid), DDC member Muzaffar Ahmad Dar, Firdous Jamaal, Aqib Mushtaq, Tanveer Ahmad, Bashir Ahmad, Tariq Ahmad Wani, and several others.
“I personally visited Kotibagh Police Station to enquire about their condition and have demanded their immediate and unconditional release“,Stated GN Shaheen.
The government’s failure to ensure hassle-free transportation through the Banihal route as well as Mughal Road during this crucial harvest season has crippled the economy of Jammu and Kashmir. Instead of repairing and reopening the roads on a war footing, the administration has chosen to silence the voices that stand for people’s rights.
“The government must stop suppressing legitimate voices of protest. Instead, it should prioritize repairing and reopening the Srinagar–Jammu highway and Mughal Road to allow hassle-free transportation of fruit produce to outside markets. Failure to do so is pushing the valley’s fruit growers and business community towards irreparable losses amounting to billions,” Shaheen said.
The party has vowed to continue its struggle until the highway is restored and the detained leaders are released.
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