Chandigarh, Feb 4: The agriculture sector faces an existential crisis due to a hidden agreement between the Central Government and the United States, according to the Aam Aadmi Party Punjab.
Speaking to the media in Chandigarh, AAP spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that the BJP-led government is preparing to open Indian markets to American products like wheat, maize, and dairy at near-zero tax rates. He noted that such a move would dismantle the local agricultural infrastructure and leave farmers with no viable future.
“What deal has been struck behind closed doors, and why is it being hidden from the nation?” Dhaliwal asked. He mentioned that it is humiliating for the country that American President Donald Trump is the one revealing India’s trade directions via tweets while the Indian Parliament remains uninformed.
The spokesperson noted that various Chief Ministers and farmer unions had previously advised the Centre to keep agriculture out of any US trade deals. Despite these warnings, he said the current administration is moving forward with a plan that favors capitalist profits over the welfare of rural households.
“Punjab is a farming state. If this deal is implemented, what will happen to our wheat belt, our cotton belt, our dairy farmers, and our own fish markets?” Dhaliwal asked. He noted that the deal could also force India to purchase more expensive fuel from the US, leading to a rise in the cost of living for every citizen.
Dhaliwal directly said that the BJP’s Punjab leaders are maintaining a “criminal silence” on the matter. He asserted that AAP will not allow the Central Government to sacrifice the interests of the peasantry for the sake of political friendships. The party has called for an immediate and full disclosure of all deal conditions to the public and the Lok Sabha.
