This summer of unrest in Kashmir which has kept the Valley boiling since 8th July after the killing of militant Burhan Wani seems to have hit first the tourism and Yatra season badly and now horticulture too has fallen in its ambit with most of the farmers left with large quantity of apple and pears left to decay because of no transportation facilities available for whole sale market in Delhi and further. The economic fall out of the unrest is going to shadow the sector for some more time to come. This year the way Valley erupted with pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans blaring from the loudspeakers of mosques, the direct incitement to fight against the security forces and keep the agitation going further with appeals to youth to join Jihad against India shows that separatists want to test the strength of bonding between BJP-PDP. But who is going to compensate the growers of fruit which makes Kashmir famous and grower of other high value agri-produce. The developments are crucial indicators of coming events and the influence of Jihad imbedded in the psyche of a generation which has grown in turmoil over two decades. It looks the stand-off would leave a sour taste for the growers, sellers and the procurement agencies as the unrest looks to stretch further with no respite and transporters falling prey to vandalism would not venture into Valley for some more time. So the accumulated produce would be left for decaying. As far as cold storage facilities are concerned the Mandis in Valley do not have modern facilities where the Agro or Horti produce can be stored safely for long time. Weather will surely take its toll under such circumstances. If Kashmir can cry for Azadi and hold the country to ransom, can’t Jammu stake for separation? The vitiated political atmosphere can lead to such a surmise as Ladakh has been demanding Union Territory status for a long time. So the trifurcation of the State could pave for some solution to such unending unrest which can give at least regional autonomy to the segments of the State.
