Satish Sharma, General Secretary of the Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee and former Chairman of the Jammu Municipal Corporation, visited Lachchipora in Kashmir on Saturday and interacted with local fruit growers, attentively listening to their concerns. Senior Congress leader Inderjeet Singh Kaka was also present on the occasion.
During the interaction, prominent fruit growers of the area — Farooq Ahmed Butt, Mushtaq Ahmed Dar, Tariq Ahmed Malik, and Nisar Ahmad Mir — shared their issues in detail. They stated that it has become increasingly difficult to sustain and expand their business under the current circumstances.
The growers expressed serious concern over the recent international trade deal, stating that it could adversely affect the interests of local orchardists and pose a threat to their livelihoods.
They further highlighted that they are already facing multiple challenges such as transportation issues, limited access to markets, rising input costs, and lack of fair pricing. In such a situation, new trade policies could worsen their condition.
On this occasion, Satish Sharma assured the fruit growers that the Congress party stands firmly with them and will fight at every level to protect their interests.
He said that under the leadership of party president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi, such anti-people decisions are being consistently opposed across the country.
Satish Sharma further stated that under the leadership of J&K Pradesh Congress Committee President Tariq Hameed Karra, a strong movement has been launched against this trade deal, demanding its immediate rollback.
In conclusion, he appealed to the fruit growers to remain united and continue raising their voice for their rights, assuring them that the Congress party will stand by them in every situation.
