NVI Special Correspondent
Sopore (J&K), Sep 25 (NVI): Addressing an election rally in Sopore, the apple town of Kashmir, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today said this fruit is the “identity” of the Valley and it should reach the markets to foreign countries like China, America and Japan.
“Your future lies in this apple,” he said while holding the fruit in his hand.
“I want this apple to reach not only the Indian markets but to China, America and Japan too…. I want the people of America to relish the Kashmiri apple,” he said, addressing the rally in Sopore which is renowned for the fruit.
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, attacked the central Modi-led government, saying it had handed over all kinds of business, including the apple trade, to his favourite two business empires Adanis and Ambanis.
“Earlier, you used to produce apple and sell it yourself in rest of the country… Today, the entire apple industry is in the hands of Adani,” he said, adding be it the apple business of Himachal Pradesh or Kashmir, it is controlled by Adani.
“I promise, if our government comes to power, we will set up an apple processing unit here and fix the Rs 72 per kg rate for apples. The processing unit will help you to send the product to national and international markets much quicker,” he said.
Rahul said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has waived Rs 16 lakh crore of debt of 25 business groups, like Adani and Ambani.
He also said that if his party is voted to power, the smart meters installed in J&K will be removed.
Referring to his party’s former legislator Haji Abdur Rashid who was present on the dais with him, Rahul said he had invited him today only for a few hours. “Next time, when you invite me here, it should not be less than two days. I want to understand everything happening here,” the Congress leader said.
He reiterated that Statehood was the prime demand of people of J&K. “INDIA alliance will put pressure on the BJP led government at the Centre in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to restore Statehood to J&K. If they fail, the INDIA alliance will do it as a first thing after coming to power,” the LoP said.
He said J&K was the only state run by outsiders rather than Chief Minister or MLAs. “Here, LG and bureaucrats are calling the shots,” Rahul said.
He accused the PM Modi led government of waiving off the loan amount of Rs 16 lakh crores to Ambani and Adani. “PM Modi government doesn’t waive off the loans of farmers, poor men or cart pullers but big business tycoons,” he said.
Rahul also promised a 100 per cent crop insurance scheme for apple farmers and Rs 2500 Cr for setting up irrigation projects in the area. He reiterated that he was having an old relationship with Kashmir. “My relationship with you is based on love and blood,” he said. This was the second rally in a day by LoP. Earlier, he addressed the rally in Jammu—(News Vibes of India)
