Himachal Leader of Opposition stresses need to stop Apple import to protect the affected growers

Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh Assembly Mr Mukesh Agnihotri urged the President of India
to direct the Union Government to stop the import of Apple affecting Rs 5000 Crore apple economy due to
crashing of apple markets.

Mr Agnihotri was speaking on the occasion of special session of state assembly to celebrate the golden jubilee
funtion of  state hood in the state assembly here today which was also attended by the President of India and Governor
of Himachal Rajinder Kumar Arelkar.

Mr Mukesh Agnihotri said that this assembly  council of the chamber witnessed many historic occasions since
this town have been the summer capital of britishers . This central assembly passed the landmark law to provide
voteing rights to women in the world in this house.

He sid that Mr Ramnath Kovind became the third president of India who was addressing this august house  
as earlier to this in 2004 former Prez Abdul Kalam Azad and IN 2013 Former Prez Pranab Mukharjee has
addressed this house .

Leader of Opposition said that this hill state was taken greatest initiative to protect the environment as Nationalisation
of Forest was started in Himachal Pradesh in the time of Former Chief Minister Late Shri Virbhadra Singh State have
also introduce ban on green felling which is being followed till date however this hills state have get nothing in return from
the centre in lieu of sacrificing important revenue sources of forests.  

Mr Agnihotri said that one could not dream of the complete statehood and formation of this hill state without first chiet
minister Dr Y.S Parmar who along with other leaders raised the demand of forming hill states despite economic
resources of the state were not enough to sustain this state economically. Soon after formation of this hill state
they worked tirelessly to over come the economic hurdles

” I would request President of India to use this good office to have justice with Himachal Pradesh as state
share in the Punjab Reorganisation Act and state shares in various power sectors were not paid to Himachal Pradesh
despite the Supreme court have warded thousands of Crores of rupees as the state share in Re=Organisaiton fo state”
Cong leader said.

” This day could not be possible without having Indian Prime Minister like Smt Indira Gandhi as it was her will power who
accepted the demands of Himachal people to declared it 18 state giving complete statehood in 1971 after passing the
state re organizational act 1971 however she also know that formation of this small states is not economically self-sustaining ”
Congress leader said.

Mr Mukesh Agnihotri said that house is missing the one of loved chief minister Virbhadra Singh who was also member
of this assembly who worked tirelessly to develop this hill state in very short span as it stand with neck to develop hill
and advance state in the country.

This assembly should be grateful to Mr SIngh as during the formation of the legislative assembly he demanded to increase the
number of assembly seat from 40 to 68 . Mr Agnihotri said that his hill state have given brave soldiers to the country
who gave their life for the cause of security and unity.

Former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal raised the demand before the erstwhile President Mr Pranab Mukharjee to
establish a Himachal Pradesh Regiment to increase the quota of requirement in the armed forces.  
However centre did not consider it the sofar.

‘Congress leader said adding that Mr Ramnath Kovid being the commander in chief of Indian Armed forces may help
state to set up a new Himachal Pradesh Regiment in the Indian Army to benefit the youth., including other hill states
if not possible to name it Himachal Regiment it could be named as Himalayan regiment..  

Mr Agnihotri also sought expansion of Railway in the state stating that after the Independence there was
massive expansion of Railway and transport services all over the Country but the hill states was ignored by
every government to add the Railway infrastructure making injustice with the hill people.

Mr Agnihotri said that Rs 5000 Crore apple economy in the state is today in crisis as the apple market is being
crashed he demanded the President and Union Minister for information and Broadcasting and youth sports
Mr Anurag Thakur to help the state to stop import of forigen apple to protect the interests of state fruit growers.
Congress leader said that apple growers are not getting remunerative prices of their crops due to crashing of
market.