As Modi signals thaw after tariff tensions with US, Arvind Kejriwal warns: ‘Surrender to Trump fatal for Indian economy, insult to 1.4 billion Indians’

Arvind Kejriwal said opening up the Indian market completely for the US is against the interests of farmers, traders, and the youth.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal addresses a press conference, in New Delhi (PTI Photo/Kamal Kishore)

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of surrendering to US President Donald Trump on trade negotiations, alleging that the government was putting the interests of farmers, traders, and youth employment “at stake” by opening up Indian markets to American goods.

“To please Trump, our country has been put at stake… Such a surrender in front of Trump is not only fatal for the Indian economy but also an insult to 1.4 billion Indians. The country hopes that the Prime Minister will not weaken and will protect the honor of the nation,” Kejriwal wrote on X, posting a screengrab of Modi’s repost of Trump’s remarks.

“What kind of negotiation is going on between the two countries? Only one-sided talks? Keeping our farmers, traders, and the employment of youth on the line, the Indian market is being completely opened up for the Americans. If the entire Indian market comes under the control of the Americans, where will our people go?” he asked.

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Kejriwal’s remarks came after Trump announced that India and the US were “continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers” between the two countries. “I look forward to speaking with my very good friend, Prime Minister Modi, in the upcoming weeks. I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our Great Countries,” Trump wrote.

Sharing Trump’s post, which signalled easing of trading tensions between the two countries, Modi said India and the US were “close friends and natural partners” and expressed confidence that trade negotiations would “pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the India-US partnership”.

The exchanges came against the backdrop of a chill in the relationship between the two countries over the US’s 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, including a 25 per cent penalty tariff for purchasing Russian oil in addition to the 25 per cent reciprocal tariff.

In the past month, many export industries in India have been hit after the US administration imposed the sweeping new tariffs on imports, which aims to reduce trade deficits and pressure nations over actions such as buying Russian oil.

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Negotiations between India and the US for a trade deal, which began in February following Modi’s visit to the US, came to a standstill when the scheduled visit of US negotiators to India in the second half of August was cancelled after Trump announced the tariffs.

In his Independence Day speech, PM Modi said India would not compromise on the well-being of its farmers, fishers, and cattle rearers amidst the standoff with the US regarding access to India’s agriculture and dairy markets for American products.

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