<h1>Political leaders say highway closures during peak fruit season are crippling horticulture economy, demand urgent relief and protections</h1> Political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir allege that the prolonged closure and restricted reopening of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway during peak fruit season has caused significant economic harm to the territory's horticulture sector, with fruit-laden trucks stranded and produce at risk of spoiling. They characterize the disruption as a deliberate attack on the local economy and demand immediate clearance of consignments, expedited highway access, central intervention to facilitate market movement, insurance coverage and MSP-like protections for apples, revival of market intervention procurement, compensation for growers, cold-storage expansion, and relief for flood-affected farmers; protesters were detained during demonstrations.