Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 17 : Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday criticised the Union and J-K governments over apple farmers' losses due to delay in restoration of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, and said the issue should have been taken more seriously.
She said that the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should have taken the step 15 days back as horticulture is the backbone of the state.
"All governments know that the horticulture industry is the backbone of J&K. Omar Abdullah called up (Union Minister) Nitin Gadkari today, but he could have done this 15 days back too. Government should have taken this seriously," Mufti told reporters.
The PDP chief said that National Highway has alway has under the jurisdiction of the Central Government. She stated that the fruit industry has kept J-K "alive" in many difficult circumstances.
"But all the Governments were aware that the fruit industry kept J&K alive under very difficult conditions. So, they always tried to restore the National Highway at the earliest," she said.
Mufti mentioned that industry can survive only when an exclusive corridor is designated for fruit trucks.
"Farmer toil hard throughout the year, take loans from banks and today, fruits worth crores of Rupees have gone to waste...The industry can survive only when an exclusive corridor is designated for fruit trucks...Government should have taken this seriously," she said.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday also spoke on the National Highway closure impacting J-K's apple crop, amid Opposition criticism of the administration.He attributed recent challenges, monsoon fury, and landslides to divine wrath, suggesting distancing from faith may be a cause.
Speaking to the reporters, Farooq Abdullah said, "...Politics will never stop in Kashmir. Some people's houses run on this politics. They receive money from Delhi and manage to survive on it...Did people damage the mountains or bring rain?"
"It was the wrath of Allah because we are far from Him. It is because we don't offer 'namaz'. Such difficulties awaken us to turn towards Allah. Look at what is happening in Gaza today, where thousands are dying. Is any Muslim country raising its voice on it," Abdullah said.