PDP’s Iltija Mufti Leads Protest at Jablipora Fruit Mandi, Demands Crop Insurance and Slams Omar Abdullah Government

ANANTNAG 19 August : Senior People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti, along with hundreds of party workers and local fruit growers, staged a demonstration at the Jablipora Fruit Mandi in Anantnag. The protest targeted the Jammu & Kashmir government over the non-implementation of a comprehensive crop insurance scheme and criticized Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recent remarks regarding the US Ambassador’s visit to Kashmir.

Demand for Crop Insurance and Anti-Hail Subsidies

Addressing the gathering of growers and party cadre, Iltija Mufti emphasized the distress faced by Kashmir’s horticulture sector following erratic weather conditions, including severe hailstorms and heavy rains that damaged orchards across South Kashmir.

She urged the administration to urgently extend a crop insurance framework covering key produce such as apples and cherries, alongside offering a 100% subsidy on anti-hail nets. Demanding immediate financial compensation for affected farmers, she highlighted that horticulture remains the primary source of livelihood for thousands of families in the valley.

Criticism of the NC-Led Government and Remarks on US Envoy

Escalating her attack on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Iltija Mufti slammed the current administration for what she termed a failure to address basic public and agricultural grievances.

She also targeted the Chief Minister over his statements regarding the visit of the US Ambassador. Calling out the National Conference leadership’s stance, Mufti questioned the government’s approach to local issues and international engagement, accusing the administration of attempting to deflect attention from pressing regional challenges.