SRINAGAR: Former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA from Wachi, Aijaz Ahmad Mir, alleged on Sunday that he was placed under detention at his residence in Zainapora, Shopian district, to prevent him from participating in a farmers’ protest demanding a comprehensive crop insurance scheme.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that police had allegedly locked the gates of Mir’s residence and sealed the roads, restricting his movement. Mir had called for fruit growers to gather at Gole Chowk in Shopian to advocate for the implementation of a crop insurance scheme, citing increasing weather-related losses impacting the horticulture sector.
Recent hailstorm and windstorm incidents across Kashmir have caused significant damage to apple orchards, leading to substantial financial losses for numerous growers. The absence of a robust insurance framework has left many farmers vulnerable to the economic fallout from extreme weather events, highlighting a critical gap in agricultural support.
Despite the alleged detention, Mir stated that the protest proceeded as planned. He posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), asserting that the farmers’ concerns could not be suppressed, and hundreds of fruit growers convened at Ghanta Ghar, Shopian, to peacefully demonstrate in support of their demands.
The protesters also called for adequate compensation for growers affected by crop damage and urged the implementation of measures to protect the horticulture sector, which is a vital component of Jammu and Kashmir’s rural economy. The demonstrators emphasized the need for government intervention to secure the livelihoods of farmers.
Reacting to the alleged detention of Aijaz Mir, PDP leader Iltija Mufti criticized the action, describing it as an attempt to thwart a peaceful demonstration by farmers. She stated that the growers were seeking a comprehensive crop insurance scheme, a demand she deemed legitimate.
In her statement on X, Mufti characterized the detention as an act of “high-handedness and intolerance.” She further argued that the horticulture industry, which she referred to as the backbone of Jammu and Kashmir’s economy, is facing severe losses amounting to hundreds of crores due to what she termed government apathy and a failure to address the concerns of farmers. She added that farmers are entitled to a secure and dignified livelihood.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
