Additional duties on US apples & walnuts scrapped: J&K leaders warn of impact, ask PM to rethink

Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said the decision “will have a devastating effect on local growers in J&K already grappling with huge losses post-2019 (abrogation of erstwhile state’s special status)”. “Hope @PMOIndia reconsiders,” Mufti posted on X.

Calling it “grave injustice”, former chief minister and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah said the Government’s move will not only impact horticulture in Kashmir, but in other states such as Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. “In order to keep the Americans and the people from other countries happy, where is the need to make the lives of the people of Kashmir difficult. We would imagine that the central government would think about the local people first. If not us, then the people of Uttarakhand and Himachal? However, all are in the same boat now and will face the consequences of this decision,” he said.

Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir also cautioned the Centre on lifting the additional import duties, saying it will lead to “economic distress… (in) J&K and Himachal fruit Industry.” “J&K growers have already undergone tremendous losses… Lifting import duties on American products shall create more problems,” he said.