Sukhu assures safety for Kashmiris in Himachal, warns US trade deal will hit apple farmers

In a firm message from Srinagar, Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu sought to quell fears over attacks on Kashmiri vendors in Himachal Pradesh while launching a sharp attack on the recently concluded India-US trade deal, warning it could severely hurt apple growers in both states.

Addressing party workers at the Pradesh Congress office alongside Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra, Sukhu described the assaults on Kashmiris in Himachal as “politically motivated” and isolated, asserting that his government had acted decisively.

His remarks come in the backdrop of multiple incidents, including the assault of a Kashmiri shawl seller in January — the fourth such case reported in recent months.

“Such instances are rare,” Sukhu said, adding that Omar Abdullah had personally spoken to him following the incident. “We acted swiftly and arrested the culprits within 24 hours.”

Calling Himachal a “second home” for many Kashmiris who have traded there for decades, Sukhu said law enforcement had been directed to take strict action in every such case. He suggested that some attacks were driven by the pursuit of social media attention.

“Sometimes, in the interest of making reels and spreading negativity, people indulge in such acts,” he said. “But my directions are clear — strict action will follow.”

He urged Kashmiri traders not to be deterred and advised them to immediately report any harassment to the police.

Trade deal sparks apple politics

Beyond law and order, Sukhu used the platform to raise alarm over the implications of the India-US trade deal, arguing that it threatens the backbone of the hill economies of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh — horticulture.

“We are both apple-producing states,” he said. “Our farmers have invested for years, built controlled atmosphere stores, and expanded orchards. This deal has shattered their dreams.”

Under the new arrangement, imports of American agricultural produce — including apples, walnuts and almonds — would reportedly enter India duty-free, while Indian produce exported abroad would continue to attract import duties, in some cases as high as 18%.

“Under what circumstances has this trade deal been designed?” Sukhu asked, calling it an “injustice” to farmers in both regions.

He warned that the long-term impact on J&K’s fruit and dry fruit industry would become clearer in the coming years, especially as cheaper American produce competes directly with domestic growers.

A country that depends on its farmers, he said, cannot afford policies that undercut them.

Echoing his concerns earlier this month, Omar Abdullah had also questioned the benefits of the agreement, saying he could see “only losses” for local producers of apples, almonds and walnuts.

As political opposition to the deal gathers momentum in the hill states, the apple — long a symbol of prosperity in both regions — is fast turning into the centrepiece of a larger economic and political battle.