Apple coming illegally through Afghanistan, Modi broke his promise to the people of Himachal: Rathore

All India Congress Committee spokesperson and MLA Theog Kuldeep Rathore said that Iran’s apples are being imported illegally through Afghanistan. Due to this, the gardeners of Himachal are suffering the most loss. Addressing a press conference in Shimla, Kuldeep Rathore has demanded from the Central Government that this matter should be banned with immediate effect. He has also demanded the MPs to raise this matter prominently with the Centre. Rathore said that apple is produced in 20 to 22 assembly constituencies of Himachal. He has also demanded from Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur that he should also take up this matter with the Central Government so that justice can be done to the gardeners of the state. Rathore said that he will raise this issue in the Assembly also. Have raised this issue in the House earlier also. Rathore said that the gardeners of the state have kept apples in cold stores and CA stores. Its objective is that they can get good prices for their crops in the off season. For this he pays rent for CA store every month. These days, gardeners take out their apples from CA stores, but they are not getting the prices these days.

Rathore said that apples are grown in countries like USA, Turkey, Italy, New Zealand and Poland. But the apple has come via Afghanistan. Whereas dry fruits are produced in Afghanistan. He said that Iran’s apples are being brought through Afghanistan. Our country has a treaty with Afghanistan due to which there is no import duty there. Due to this black marketing, the prices of apples are falling in Himachal. He alleged that the central government has proved completely unsuccessful in stopping illegal import of apples. Rathore said that in the last Lok Sabha elections, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister had promised the gardeners of Himachal that the import duty on apples would be increased from 50 to 100 percent. But far from increasing it in 5 years, it instead brought it down from 50 to 30 percent. Due to this, Himachal’s apple industry is in trouble. He alleged that the Center has taken this step under pressure from big apple traders. He said that the gardeners of the state have met him and expressed their concern. Rathore said that the Modi government at the Center had promised that the income of farmers and gardeners would be doubled, but instead of doubling it, it has put them in financial crisis. He said that the prices of diesel and petrol are stable. Whereas the prices of crude oil are continuously falling. Crude oil was Rs 120 per barrel in June 2022 and will be Rs 77 per barrel in February 2024. Companies are continuously earning profits and common people are not getting any relief.