Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and J&K party president, Ravinder Raina, on Friday visited Asia’s second-largest fruit mandi in Sopore to take stock of the mounting crisis faced by fruit growers and dealers due to the prolonged closure of the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway. During his visit, Raina interacted with growers, dealers, and traders at the mandi and listened to their concerns regarding stranded fruit-laden trucks, delayed transportation, and heavy financial losses. The growers highlighted how the continuous highway blockade has left them distressed, with thousands of apple trucks halted for weeks, resulting in a sharp decline in fruit quality and market value. Expressing solidarity with the growers, Raina assured them that their grievances would be raised at the highest levels of government. He reiterated that the BJP stands shoulder to shoulder with the fruit community in this difficult time and promised that immediate steps will be taken to ensure smoother passage of fruit consignments towards outside markets. “Apple is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy, and we will not allow growers to suffer due to administrative lapses. Necessary interventions will be made to safeguard the interests of traders and farmers,” Raina said while addressing the gathering. He further emphasized that “Govt is one, there is no dispute, LG and state govt jointly work for benefit of people,” underscoring that all efforts are being made in unison to address the crisis. Fruit dealers, on their part, urged the government to prioritize perishable fruit trucks on the highway, demanding swift restoration of traffic movement. They expressed hope that the BJP leadership’s intervention will bring tangible relief to the sector, which is already grappling with challenges from erratic weather and fluctuating market prices. The visit by the BJP leader is seen as significant, as it comes at a time when mounting frustration among growers has led to protests and calls for stronger government action. Raina’s assurance of solidarity has been welcomed cautiously, with growers waiting to see concrete results on the ground. The fruit mandi of Sopore, considered the largest economic hub of North Kashmir, continues to mirror the anxiety of the valley’s growers, who remain on edge as every passing day adds to their losses