SRINAGAR: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah expressed dismay over the government’s decision to lift additional duties on several American products stating that the measure will affect the growers of Kashmir badly.
Appealing to the government to reconsider its decision to remove the additional duty on apples, walnuts, and almonds imported from the US, Omar said that the government should stop appeasing foreigners at the cost of the interests of its own people.
“I don’t understand why the government is troubling its own people for pleasing people from other countries. We thought the Centre would first think about the people of Kashmir. If they don’t consider the problems of the people of JK they should at least think about the people from Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh,” Abdullah said.
Omar said that the Centre should revisit its decision in the larger interests of growers, “We don’t want imported apples, walnuts, and almonds. Our produce is good enough. We hope that the government will reconsider its decision otherwise the people of the hill states will have to bear the brunt of this decision,” he said.
On the successful culmination of G20 event, Abdullah said that G20 is of no use if the people of the country are suffering. “It is a routine exercise that that takes place every year. Government’s primary focus should be on making its own people happy.”
Abdullah accused the government of shying away from the problems of masses by hiding behind a a security cover. “This government is not ready to listen to the people as their is no connect between the two. They have no idea about the problems of common people.”
Omar suggested that the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha should convene a meeting with fruit growers of the valley and listen to their issues. “He should go to Baramulla, Rafiabad, Sopore, Shopian and Pulwama to interact with horticulturists. He should interact with them to know about their problems.”
Pertinently, the additional levies were imposed in 2019 as a retaliatory measure to the United States decision to raise tariffs on specific steel and aluminum items.
