SHIMLA: Ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, Indian National Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the central government's decision to reduce import duties on American apples from 35% to 15%, claiming it has severely impacted apple farmers in Himachal. "The Centre should Term Himachal calamity as national disaster and We will take up in the Parliament", she said.
Gandhi Vadra voiced her concerns while visiting flood-affected areas in Shimla, including Summerhill and Krishna Nagar, where she spoke to the media and she blamed the Modi Government at the Centre for losses that the apple farmers are suffering due to fall in prices.
She criticized the reduction in import duties on American apples, stating that it has made it easier to import them while corporate buyers in Shimla have lowered the purchase price of apple boxes, ultimately hurting local farmers.
The Centre was helping the American farmers rather than its own farmers of Himachal, who have suffered huge losses to the heavy rains and natural disaster.
She called for government support to assist the affected farmers, emphasizing the need for better facilities if the disaster is declared a national one.
Priyanka Gandhi was deeply moved by the suffering of the people in Himachal Pradesh. She called upon the Union Government to declare the situation a national disaster due to the magnitude of the losses incurred.
She emphasized that the state government, led by Chief Minister Sukhu, was working tirelessly to provide relief, but the scale of the disaster surpassed their capacity.
In a surprising twist, Priyanka Gandhi urged for unity across party lines and called for collective efforts to aid the state.
She announced that the Congress Party would raise the issue of a special relief package for Himachal Pradesh during a special session in Parliament.
The message was clear: it was time to set aside political differences and prioritize the well-being of the affected people.
Priyanka Gandhi commended the resilience of the people who were coming together to help one another, including women donating their labor to reopen roads in Kullu district.
Chief Minister Sukhu, despite limited resources, vowed to provide support to the affected families, including offering fixed rent to those staying in relief camps so they could secure suitable accommodation.
She also called on Prime Minister Modi to declare the Himachal natural calamity a national disaster, which would enable the allocation of additional funds to expedite restoration and provide shelter to the more than 15,000 people rendered homeless by floods in the state in July and August.
As a matter of fact while India is obligated to import fruit from the United States annually under WTO agreements, this year's lower apple production in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, the primary apple-producing states in the Himalayan region, has created an opportunity for increased imports from the US, Turkey, Iran, and other countries.
Importers stand to profit significantly from the poor apple season in the Himalayan state this year, making apple politics a focal point in the lead-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
BJP has been actively campaigning in the state and has accused the Sukhu government of mishandling post-natural disaster recovery efforts.
In contrast, the Himachal Pradesh Congress has defended its crisis management efforts, claiming recognition from the World Bank and other experts for their restoration initiatives.
The political tussle over apples and disaster management is expected to intensify as the 2024 Lok Sabha elections draw nearer, with both major parties locked in a war of words over these critical issues.
The need is the hour is a rare moment of unity and empathy in the face of a disaster. The politicians set aside their differences to prioritize the needs of the people of Himachal Pradesh.
