American Red Sorghum, Corn, Cotton, Apples, Almonds, Who Will Protect Indian Farmers?
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab has strongly condemned the so-called India–US trade deal, calling it a dangerous, anti-farmer and anti-national agreement that will devastate Indian agriculture and push millions of farmers towards economic ruin.
AAP Punjab Chief Spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that BJP leader Sunil Jakhar is celebrating the deal without understanding, or deliberately hiding, its catastrophic consequences for India’s poor and marginal farmers.
“Sunil Jakhar says AAP is silent. Let me make it very clear, we are not silent. We have been raising objections for the last ten days, from the very day this deal was announced. It is BJP that kept the nation in the dark. The Prime Minister could not speak in Parliament. Instead, the country learned about the deal from Donald Trump’s tweets,” Dhaliwal said.
He pointed out that Trump repeatedly used the word ‘agriculture’ in his statements, which should alarm every Indian farmer.
“Our concern is simple and serious: this deal opens India’s markets to heavily subsidised American agricultural products, directly threatening Indian farmers who already receive little to no support.”
American Red Sorghum, Corn, Cotton, Apples, Almonds, Who Will Protect Indian Farmers?
Dhaliwal highlighted the example of red sorghum, 75% of which is produced in the US, while in India it is grown by poor farmers in drought-prone regions of Maharashtra, with no MSP support.
“If American red sorghum and other American grains and dairy floods Indian markets, our maize, bajra, and indigenous crops will collapse. Farmers in Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and UP will be wiped out,” he warned.
He further questioned What will happen to cotton farmers if subsidised US cotton enters India? Where will Jammu & Kashmir farmers go if American almonds and walnuts flood the market? How will apple growers in Himachal and Kashmir survive against cheap US apples? What about dairy and other agricultural products that will follow?
Unequal Tariffs, Total Surrender
Dhaliwal slammed the BJP government for completely surrendering India’s interests, Earlier, Indian goods faced 2.8% tariffs, Under Trump, tariffs were raised to 50%, Now Indian exports face 18% tariffs, Meanwhile, India has reduced tariffs on US products from 60 percent to almost zero
“This is not a trade deal. This is economic surrender,” he said.
Jakhar Changed Masters, Not Habits
Taking a sharp dig at Sunil Jakhar, Dhaliwal said, “When Congress was in power, Jakhar sang praises of Indira Gandhi. Today he sings praises of Narendra Modi. But he never speaks for farmers or Punjabis. Speak for farmers, not for your political masters.”
Dhaliwal reiterated that this deal is against Indian farmers, is against national interest, Will destroy Indian agriculture and push farmers towards bankruptcy and suicides.
“The US has found the world’s biggest market for its surplus farm produce. But where will our farmers go? Who will answer this?” Dhaliwal asked. He directly challenged Sunil Jakhar and the BJP government to explain to the people of India, how is this deal in the interest of Indian farmers? Start by answering one question: what benefit will Indian farmers get when American red sorghum, corn, cotton, apples and almonds flood our markets?”
Dhaliwal warned BJP Punjab leaders to think before speaking and stop misleading the nation, asserting that the aam aadmi party will continue to expose this “anti-farmer conspiracy” at every level.
