Shimla, Dec. 26 -- The All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Thursday lashed out at Himachal Pradesh's seven BJP MPs for their "studied silence" over the union Government's decision to slash import duty on New Zealand apples from 50 pc to 25 pc, a move Congress says threatens the livelihoods of orchardists and the state's Rs 5,000-crore apple economy.
Former Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee chief and AICC spokesperson Rathore termed the decision a betrayal of the Prime Minister's earlier promise to protect domestic growers and warned of severe consequences for Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir's horticulture sector.
Addressing reporters here, former HPCC chief and AICC spokesperson said, "The reduction of import duty from 50 ...