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NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday continued his attack on the Centre over the proposed framework of the India–US trade deal, alleging that the country is witnessing a “betrayal of Indian farmers” in the name of the pact.
In a post on X, Gandhi questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the implications of importing Distillers Dried Grains (DDG) from the United States. He asked whether such imports would mean Indian cattle being fed distillers’ grain made from genetically modified (GM) American corn, and whether that would make India’s milk production dependent on the US agricultural industry.
“We are witnessing a betrayal of India’s farmers in the name of a US trade deal. I want to ask the Prime Minister a few simple questions: What exactly does importing DDG mean? Does it mean Indian cattle will be fed distillers’ grain made from GM American corn? Won’t this effectively make our milk production dependent on the American agricultural industry?” Gandhi wrote.
The Congress leader also raised concerns about the possible import of US GM soybean oil, questioning its impact on soybean farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and other parts of the country. He further sought clarity on references to “additional products” in the trade discussions, asking whether this signalled future pressure to open up India’s pulses and other crop markets to American imports.
“If we allow the import of GM soybean oil, what will happen to our soybean farmers? How will they survive yet another price shock? When you say ‘additional products’, what exactly is included? Is this a signal that over time there will be pressure to open up pulses and other crops to American imports?” he asked.
Gandhi also questioned the meaning of removing “non-trade barriers” and whether India could face pressure to soften its stance on GM crops, weaken procurement mechanisms, or reduce minimum support price (MSP) and bonuses. He said farmers deserved clear answers, adding that the issue concerned the long-term future of India’s agricultural sector.
Earlier on Saturday, Gandhi accused the Modi government of misleading the country about tariff provisions in the interim India–US trade agreement. He alleged that while Indian garments face an 18 per cent tariff in the United States, Bangladesh has been offered zero per cent tariff access for garment exports on the condition that it imports US cotton.
According to Gandhi, this arrangement would create a policy dilemma: importing American cotton would hurt domestic cotton farmers, while not doing so would disadvantage India’s textile industry. He also claimed that Bangladesh may reduce or halt cotton imports from India, potentially worsening the situation for Indian producers.
Calling cotton farming and the textile industry the backbone of livelihoods for crores of people, Gandhi said any adverse impact on these sectors could push millions of families into economic distress. He argued that a trade deal negotiated in the national interest should safeguard both farmers and exporters.
The Centre has not yet officially responded to Gandhi’s latest remarks.(Agencies)
