Chandigarh, Feb 11: Aam Aadmi Party MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal has called on Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar to make the draft of the India-US trade deal public. The spokesperson noted that misleading statements are being used to mask a deal that could lead to the ruin of maize and millet growers across the region.
The criticism follows reports that the Modi government has reduced taxes on American goods to zero, even as Indian exports are met with an 18 percent tax hike in the US. Dhaliwal noted that such a lopsided agreement cannot be viewed as being in the national interest.
“How is this in the country’s interest?” Dhaliwal asked during his address. He directly said that the deal allows American products to capture Indian markets at the expense of local agriculture.
The AAP spokesperson compared the current situation to the advocacy of the three farm laws by the Badal family. He mentioned that the BJP leadership is currently singing praises of a deal that has not been shared with the public or the Parliament.
Dhaliwal indicated that the fight against these trade terms involves the entire country, not just the farming community. He stated that he intends to speak out daily to expose the reality of the agreement and its potential impact on the livelihoods of those in the agricultural sector.
“Jakhar Sahib is advocating for this deal today just as the Badal family once advocated for the three black farm laws,” Dhaliwal said. He noted that the party will continue to challenge the official narrative until the full details of the deal are disclosed.
