Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday accused the government of betraying Indian farmers under the India-US interim trade deal and demanded answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on its impact on agriculture and the textile sector.
Posting on X in Hindi, Gandhi said, “In the name of a US trade deal, we are witnessing a betrayal of Indian farmers.” He questioned whether India is allowing another country to secure a long-term hold over its agriculture industry.
Gandhi raised concerns over the import of Dried Distillers’ Grains (DDG), asking, “Does it mean that Indian cattle will be fed distillers’ grains made from GM American corn? Won’t this effectively make our milk products dependent on the US agricultural industry?”
He also highlighted potential repercussions of allowing GM soy oil imports. “How will soy farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and across the country withstand another price shock?” Gandhi asked, adding that farmers require clarity on the deal’s provisions.
Also read: Rahul meets major farmer unions to discuss India-US trade deal
The leader of the opposition also queried the meaning of “additional products” and “non-trade barriers,” cautioning that these could open the door to pressure for liberalising GM crops, weakening procurement policies, or reducing minimum support prices (MSPs) and bonuses.
“This isn’t just about today. It’s about the future too, are we allowing another country to gain a long-term hold on India's agriculture industry?” he added.
On Saturday, Gandhi claimed the deal was detrimental to cotton farmers and textile exporters, noting that zero per cent tariffs granted to Bangladesh could harm both sectors. He criticised the government for failing to safeguard domestic interests, saying, “A visionary government would have negotiated a deal that protected farmers and ensured the prosperity of textile exporters.”
He further explained the tariff disparity in a post on X: “18 per cent Tariff vs 0 per cent, Let me explain how the prime minister and his cabinet are spreading confusion on this issue. And how they are cheating India's cotton farmers and textile exporters through the India-US trade deal.”
The Congress leader’s remarks signal intensifying scrutiny of the trade deal ahead of agricultural and industrial assessments, as opposition parties press the government on protecting domestic sectors while engaging in international agreements.
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