Himachal protesters demand 100% import duty on apples

The Himachal Kisan Sabha and the Himachal Seb Utpadak Sangh today staged a protest outside the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat and demanded that the government should impose 100 per cent import duty on apples. They further demanded that compensation be provided to the families affected due to four lane construction work and land to landless people.

Hundreds of people associated with the organisations first participated in a march from Talland till state’s Secretariat and raised slogans against the government. Barricades were installed near the Secretariat due to which traffic movement on the Chotta Shimla-Sanjauli Road was completely halted for a few hours, causing huge inconvenience to commuters.

Addressing the protest, former Theog MLA and CPM leader Rakesh Singha said that FTA signed with New Zealand in December 2025 has put the future of more than 2.5 lakh orchardists in the state in jeopardy. He said that imported apples could destroy the Rs 5,500 crores apple economy of the state.

Singha also said that the government has failed to frame a policy for landless farmers in accordance with the Supreme Court orders.

Speaking about the damages caused by four lane construction work, Singh alleged that there is a nexus between the government, administration and the corporates due to which lives of common people are being put to risk. Life time savings of the people are being destroyed while the public representatives have become mute spectators.

“The four-lane construction work is completely unscientific. Extensive damage has been caused in several areas due to the construction work. Incidents such as collapse of buildings in Bhattakufar area, sinking of road in Bhattakufar and cracks appearing in houses in the Chalaunthi area have left many families homeless. Despite all this destruction, neither any action has been taken against the construction companies, nor have the affected people have been compensated,” he said.

“Four-lane construction works should be subjected to a scientific investigation by expert institutions such as the Geological Survey of India (GSI), IIT Roorkee or IIT Mandi. Unscientific construction activities should be stopped and the families that have suffered due to the construction activities should be provided compensation,” he said.

Following the protest, a delegation called on Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The CM, after listening to their demands, assured them that the state government will consider their demands sympathetically.