Srinagar, Sept 16 (KNS) : Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) on Tuesday staged a forceful demonstration at Press Colony, Srinagar, demanding immediate clearance of fruit-laden trucks stranded on the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway.

In a statement issued, Hundreds of AIP activists, led by MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed, raised slogans of “Save Apple, Save Kashmir” and accused the administration of deliberately choking the Valley’s horticulture economy. Protesters carried placards drawing attention to the rotting fruit stuck in trucks and the financial devastation being faced by orchardists.

Addressing the media, MLA Sheikh Khursheed said the blockade was nothing short of an “economic assault” on Kashmir. “Lakhs of families depend on horticulture for survival. By keeping apple consignments stranded for days, the administration is silently crushing Kashmir’s economy. Empty promises won’t save our growers, only immediate action will,” he said.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

The protest, however, was swiftly disrupted by police, who detained several prominent leaders of the party. Those arrested included MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed, Chairman PAC Ishtiyaq Qadri, Party Spokesperson Firdouse Baba, senior leaders Ajaz Ahmad Lone, Professor Naseer Rather, DDC Khursheed Ahmad Dar, Spokesperson North Kashmir Adv. Shahnawaz Mir, former BDC Chairmen Showkat Ahmad Pandit and Bashir Ahmad, Adv. Muzaffar and Sheikh Tariq.

AIP Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi strongly condemned the arrest of party leaders, terming it an attempt to silence the genuine voice of Kashmir’s growers. “Instead of ensuring free passage for apple trucks, the government is busy jailing those who speak for the people. Saving the apple crop means saving the very backbone of Kashmir’s livelihood and no amount of repression will stop us from defending it,” he said.(KNS)