'India–US trade deal is the biggest betrayal to farmers': Kuldeep Dhaliwal

Dhaliwal warned that through this deal, America’s “red sorghum” would capture Indian markets, leading to the ruin of farmers growing maize, millets, and sorghum in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. He said that due to zero tariffs on American food, apple, almond, and walnut producers in Kashmir and Himachal would also be pushed onto the streets.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab’s chief spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, while strongly criticizing Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar for advocating the India–US trade deal, termed the agreement the biggest “betrayal” of the country’s farmers. Dhaliwal directly challenged Jakhar to make the actual draft of the deal public instead of singing praise for it in the media.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday along with AAP leader Prabhvir Brar, Dhaliwal, citing figures, said that the Trump administration has increased tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, whereas the Modi government, completely bowed down, and reduced taxes on American goods to zero.

He questioned how this could be called a fair deal when American farmers would be able to sell their produce in India without any tax, while Indian farmers would have to pay an 18% tax in America. How is this in the country’s interest?

Dhaliwal warned that through this deal, America’s “red sorghum” would capture Indian markets, leading to the ruin of farmers growing maize, millets, and sorghum in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. He said that due to zero tariffs on American food, apple, almond, and walnut producers in Kashmir and Himachal would also be pushed onto the streets.

Taking a dig at Sunil Jakhar, Dhaliwal said that Jakhar Sahib is advocating for this deal today just as the Badal family once advocated for the three black farm laws. Today, the political condition of the Akali Dal is obvious to everyone. While serving Modi, make sure you do not meet the same fate as the Akalis. He said that earlier Jakhar served the Gandhi family while in Congress, and now, by singing praises of Modi, he is bent on selling out the country’s interests.