Shopian: Kashmiri fruit growers Wednesday accused non-local fruit merchants of fraud and urged upon government to safeguard the interests of local fruit dealers.
President, Fruit Growers Association Shopian, Muhammad Amin while addressing a press conference at Fruit Mandi Shopian said majority of non-locals dealing with fruit business are becoming defaulters.
He alleged that non local apple merchants purchase apples in Kashmir on credit basis with post-dated cheques of J&K Bank while most of their cheques get bounced.
“The non-local merchants have ruined this business. They are turning defaulters much disappointment and torture of the local fruit growers,” he said.
President, Fruit Growers Association Shopian as per news agency Kashmir News Trust said that the process of deception in Fruit Mandi Shopian has been going on since long while Government is acting as silent speculator taking no action against these non-local defaulters.
He said these defaulters have forced several fruit agent to close their business as they have nothing to pay to the apple growers.
He urged upon the government to frame strict laws on fast-track basis so that fake traders won’t survive and enter into the fruit business.
Meanwhile, police arrested a non-local fruit trader who has an outstanding of over Rs 2 crore.
President, Fruit Growers Association Shopian, Muhammad Amin said that if corrective measures are not taken, fruit business in Shopian will face a major setback. (KNT)
