Kulgam, Oct 24: Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Kulgam, Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami on Thursday urged the government to improve market conditions and ensure fair pricing for local apple growers.
He said this while addressing the media after holding his first rally following his victory in the Kulgam seat for the 5th consecutive time. “In the darkness, a light is visible to our people,” Tarigami said, acknowledging the challenges Jammu and Kashmir has faced over the past decade.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader said the government must address the pressing political, economic and employment issues in the region while ensuring peace and relief for the people. The youth, he added, deserve freedom from “arrests” and “FIRs”, adding that the government must uphold the promises made to the people.
He said that the Darbar Move, the bi-annual shifting of the Jammu and Kashmir government between Jammu and Srinagar, should be restored. “Jammu is ours, and Kashmir is Jammu’s,” he asserted.
MLA Kulgam said he has been receiving appeals from teachers and students for exams to be held in the November session, as per past practice, to avoid unnecessary delays during the winter vacation. He further said that the verification process punishes individuals for the actions of their relatives. “It is an illegal practice that needs reform,” he said.
The CPI(M) leader said the apple growers, whether from Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama, Sopore or other areas, are facing disappointment. “Apple production has turned into a ‘deal of loss’ due to a lack of government support, ineffective pesticides, and competition from outside markets. The government must ensure better market conditions and a fair price for local apple growers,” he said.
Tarigami said there is an urgent need for improvements in healthcare, particularly in Yaripora, Damhal and Devsar, which face a shortage of doctors. He called for the establishment of a press club in Kulgam to facilitate better communication with the media.
