Jammu and Kashmir National Conference party vice president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed dismay over the frequent intimidation and restrictions on the sole highway connecting Kashmir with the rest of country.
Party vice president while interacting with the delegation of fruit growers from Sopore said, “The party is privy to the difficulties the people of the state are facing in wake of the reckless highway ban. The marginalized traders, the fruit growers are in particular at the receiving end of it. Our party has been raising the issue at all appropriate forums. Our parliament members are continuously raising the issues concerning the state in the parliament.”
The fruit grower’s delegation that had called the party vice president at his residence apprised him about the range of difficulties they are facing in wake of reckless high way ban. The visiting delegation apprised the party vice president about the plethora of miseries that the general public is facing because of the recurring diktats. Party vice president assured the visiting delegation to take their issues concerning them at appropriate forums particularly to expedite the movement of fruit laden trucks on priority basis.
Urging the incumbent governor administration to ensure the quick widening of Udampur –Banihal stretch he said, “The road widening between the Banihal –Udampur Stretch is also impeding the hassle free movement of the trucks laden with perishable items mostly fruits and live stock. The frequent traffic jams on the stretch has become a nuisance which needs to be addressed to,” he said adding, “The harassment and the frequent restrictions on the highway is also adding to the mounting woes of the traders and business community in the valley. The highway is already fraught with innumerable bottlenecks.”
Among others party provincial president Nasir Sogami, spokesperson Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi, Prof. Abdul Majeed Matoo, and Dr. Muhammad Shafi were also present on the occasion.
Meanwhile various delegations from Beerwah, and Ganderbal also called on party vice president Omar Abdullah at his residence today.