Highway Closure Sparks Economic Concerns in Jammu and Kashmir

The closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has sparked criticism from National Conference Lok Sabha MP Ruhullah Mehdi, who alleges it is a deliberate attempt to damage Jammu and Kashmir's economy. Mehdi, addressing reporters in Shopian, highlighted the nine-day closure's impact on the region's crucial horticulture sector.

Fruit-laden trucks, stranded due to heavy rainfall and flash floods, have raised fears of significant financial losses among growers. Mehdi emphasized the region's horticulture industry contributes over 75% to its GDP, significantly surpassing tourism. He described a consistent pattern in actions perceived as economic sabotage, from highway closures to the sale of substandard pesticides.

Mehdi also welcomed the Supreme Court's suspension of key provisions of the Waqf Amendment Act, urging equal application of the law across religions. On the PSA issue concerning AAP's Doda MLA, he called for collective action against the 'PSA regime,' criticizing those in governance for inaction.