Shopian apple growers, traders meet Koul

Shopian traders & apple growers during a meeting with Ashok Koul on Thursday.
Shopian traders & apple growers during a meeting with Ashok Koul on Thursday.

Excelsior Correspondent
SHOPIAN, Sept 29: A deputation of Apple traders met Ashok Koul, general secretary (Org.), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here, today and discussed their issues with him.
Deputation was comprised of traders and apple growers. A memorandum from the Sopore Association was also presented which was sent by Fayaz Kakaji. The demands of traders and growers were keenly listened to by Ashok Koul who visited the office of the Association at the Shopian and assured them that he will do everything possible to mitigate the suffering of apple traders.
The fruit growers said that they are facing these problems for many decades. The Association highlighted all their problems from transportation to import duty imposed in Bangladesh and the American apples grown in Kashmir. The trader Association also raised objections to the import of Iranian apples which is duty-free as a result, the sale of Indian apples suffer huge losses.
Ameen, president of the Shopian Association along with his delegation highlighted all the demands and appreciated the visit of Ashok Koul who came to Shopian to meet all the traders and growers personally.
Javed Qadri and Mohammad Younis from BJP also were also present on the occasion.