PM sacrificing farmers over U.S. trade deal: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi criticizes PM Modi for prioritising U.S. trade deal over Indian farmers' interests, pledging support for agriculture in Kerala

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of destroying the foundation of India by allegedly agreeing to open the agriculture sector to the United States and vowed that farmers would not be sacrificed for political or financial interests.

Addressing a farmers’ convention (Karshaka Sangamam) at Peravoor town in Kerala’s Kannur district, Mr. Gandhi said, “Indian farmers form the foundation of the country, just as a building depends on its base.”

The Congress leader argued that while considerable attention is paid to sectors such as information technology (IT), agriculture remains the backbone without which no development is possible. He said farmers across the country consistently raised concerns about man-animal conflicts, lack of cold storage facilities, and failure to receive fair prices, including minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

Referring to reports of a trade understanding with the U.S. President Donald Trump, Mr. Gandhi alleged that permitting American agricultural products such as soyabean, corn, and fruits into the Indian market would devastate small and marginal farmers in the country.

“Indian farmers are small with limited mechanisation, whereas American farmers are large and heavily mechanised, making the competitive competition unequal.”

Such a move, he claimed, would undermine gains made through the Green Revolution and White Revolution.