US commerce deal will chunk into Kashmiri apples: J&Okay CM Omar Abdullah | India Information – The Occasions of India – Imperial Wire

JAMMU: J&Okay legislators voiced concern on Tuesday over the US commerce deal’s potential influence on Kashmiri apples, with many describing it as a “demise blow”.“They (Centre) have instructed America it may well ship as a lot fruits and apples because it desires at zero responsibility and we’ll purchase it right here. The place has their sympathy for Jammu and Kashmir gone?” CM Omar Abdullah requested within the meeting.Omar questioned claims by some BJP legislators that the commerce deal would profit the area. “I’m nonetheless making an attempt to grasp the place this good factor is for J&Okay,” Omar stated. He claimed apples and walnuts have been positioned underneath zero-duty imports as a part of the settlement.CPM legislator MY Tarigami flagged related worries, claiming the Centre had signed one other cope with New Zealand. “These agreements are posing critical challenges to Kashmir’s apple business, the spine of our financial system,” Tarigami stated.PDP MLA Waheed Parra demanded minimal assist costs (MSP) for the area’s horticultural produce.