The original Banihal and Rohtang passes should be kept open for road traffic, notwithstanding that there are tunnels in each. – Simranjit Singh Mānn

The Tribune Dated 9th October, 2022

Comments by Simranjit Singh Mann: Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) states that we have always thought of such circumstances taking place in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, as what happened to the Crimea Bridge.

In Kashmir we have the Banihal tunnel and in Himachal Pradesh the Rohtang tunnel. If a truck bomb bursts in either, all passage to the Kashmir Valley would come to an end. Therefore, we have always thought that the original road, no matter what the cost, over the Banihal and Rohtang should be kept in order. We have enough equipment to keep these two passes alive through out winter.

It was disheartening to come across the news that 8000 trucks loaded with apples were not allowed to move out of the Kashmir valley for days and days. If the Hindu Indian state is using the draconian law AFSPA ( Armed Forces Special Powers Act.) which gives liberty to the armed forces to kill, maim, torture, rape, kidnap, abduct, and detain a Kashmiri indefinitely, all with impunity, , we want to know whether this law gives the liberty to the undemocratic Government in Kashmir to kill the economy of the Kashmiri people?

The Kashmiri’s thrive on the sale of the various fruits and vegetables they produce. If this perishable vegetable and fruit crop is shut in the valley, and not allowed to move into the plains for sale, then it is obvious that the Hindu Indian state wants to kill the Kashmir economy.

We minorities want answers to the atrocities being perpetrated by the majoritarianism.

Simranjit Singh Mānn,
President,
Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar),
Email: [email protected]
website: https://akalidalamritsar.in/
facebook page: @sardarsimranjitsinghmann