Srinagar: BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh, who is also party incharge for J&K, Wednesday targeted the former J&K chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, and senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi for “deliberately misleading the apple orchardists by misinterpreting the Centre’s decision on additional duties on imported apples.”
In a scathing attack on the opposition leaders, Chugh pointed out that there was no reduction on the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) duty on apples, walnuts and almonds, which still applies to all imported products, including the US-origin products.
“The Centre has reduced the import duty on the Washington apple and this decision will not result in any negative impact on domestic apple, walnut and almond producers. Rather, it will result in competition in the premium market segment of apples, walnuts and almonds, thereby ensuring better quality at competitive prices for our Indian consumers,” he said.
Chugh said the opposition leaders were raising misleading fears in the minds of traders just to gain political points by foul means.
He said the Modi government has always taken all decisions in national interest protecting the interest of national consumers.
