Import duty exemption on cotton betrayal of farmers, should be rolled back: Kejriwal in Gujarat

Kejriwal also said India should give a reply to the US for its 50% tariff and impose 75% tariff on all goods being imported from there.

While addressing a press conference from a farm on the Ahmedabad-Rajkot Highway, Kejriwal said, “Our farmers have sown their cotton in June-July. They have also borrowed money for seeds, fertilizer and labourers for growing cotton. Their produce will be ready by October-November. These farmers think that when their crop is ready in October-November and they go to the market, they will get (good) price for the same. However, they do not know how the (PM Narendra) Modi government at Centre has betrayed them.”

Kejriwal was in Gujarat to attend a Kisan Mahapanchayat at a market yard in Chotila of Surendranagar district. However, the event was postponed following heavy rains leading to waterlogging at the venue following which Kejriwal addressed the press conference.

Kejriwal said that when the cotton produced by farmers in America used to come to India, it faced 11% duty. And because of that, it used to be expensive in comparison to the cotton of Indian farmers, he added. However, with exemption of import duty, the cotton coming from the US will be cheaper by Rs 15-20 per kg than the cotton from Indian farmers, he said. As a result, the cotton of Indian farmers will not be sold, he added. Kejriwal said the cotton-growing farmers of India will have no option but to commit suicide.

Touching on the issue of prices of cotton, Kejriwal said that in 2013, the farmers used to get Rs 1,500-1,700 per 20-kg of cotton.

“Back then, in the 2014 elections, PM Modi had said that these rates were very less and that it should be Rs 2,500 (per 20 kg). Forget Rs 2,500, it has come down by Rs 300. (The farmer) gets Rs 1,200 whereas, the prices of every other thing has increased…Today, a farmer gets Rs 1,200 with great difficulty. And when the cotton from the US comes, the (Indian) farmer will get less than Rs 900 in the market,” he said.

In the backdrop of the US imposing a 50% tariff on India, Kejriwal asked why the Indian government under Modi was “so helpless against the US”. He then raised four demands before the Central government.

“We want to make a demand from this stage that the 11% duty exempted on import of cotton be restored. Second, the (cotton) farmers of our country are given an MSP of Rs 2,100 per 20 kg. Third, just fixing the MSP won’t do: Farmers’ produce should be bought at MSP rates. Fourth, since inputs like fertilizer, seeds are so expensive, the government should make it cheaper by giving subsidies on it,” Kejriwal said.

The former Delhi CM further said like the farmers, a catastrophe has fallen on diamond workers of Surat with the US imposing a 50% tariff on diamonds exported from India. Because of this, lakhs of diamond workers in Surat have become jobless and do not have money to pay fees for their children’s education, he said. Despite this, our government is not taking any action against them and is ‘kneeling down before them’, he alleged.

Kejriwal said that like Canada, European Union and Mexico, India should also give a reply to the US and impose a 75% tariff on all goods being imported from there. He said that the entire country is ready to back PM Modi if he takes any such step against the US. Instead of that, he alleged, the Modi government has exempted import duty on cotton till December 2025.

“In India, (Donald) Trump imposed a 50% tariff. In return, (PM) Modi did not increase their (tariff) and instead the 11% tariff which was being imposed has also been waived. Why are we becoming weak? India is a country of 140 crore people. It is the world’s largest market. All the companies in America want to come to India and sell their products. 140 crore people are standing behind Modiji. Entire country is standing behind Modiji,” he said. “They (the US) imposed a 50% tariff on us. Modiji should have imposed a 100% tariff on them. Trump would have had to bow down. Trump is a coward and timid person. He had bowed down before all the countries which challenged him… Stand firm (against him). Give a reply to these people (the US). Why are you not replying? Why are you falling weak?” Kejriwal said.

“You show courage. We are with you. They imposed a 50% tariff on exports from India. Impose a 75% tariff on all imports from the US; we are ready to face the consequences. Entire country is ready,” he added.