Kharge terms India-US trade deal anti-farmer: ‘Will spark another 2021-like stir’

Earlier in the day, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had reiterated that the government had ensured that India’s agriculture and dairy sectors were kept secure during the negotiations of the deal.

Kharge said Indian farmers would be destroyed by the deal, while American farmers would benefit.

“After taking back the black laws [the three farm laws that were withdrawn in 2021 after over a year-long farmers’ protest], now you are making the same mistake again…Once again, there will be a farmers’ movement and when they come out on to the streets…you will have to take this back like you took that [the three farm laws] back,” he said.

Speaking about the trade with China, Kharge said a red carpet was being laid for Chinese trade today. He termed it a “strategic surrender”, saying that China was repeatedly claiming territory in Arunachal Pradesh. He said the trade was increasing at a time the government says that China had come to the aid of Pakistan during Operation Sindoor.

Kharge also raised concerns over the attacks on minorities during the NDA government’s term, saying that social justice and harmony were being bulldozed.

Intervening after Kharge, Health Minister and Leader of the House J P Nadda cited Goyal’s statement, reiterating that agriculture and dairy sectors have been protected in the trade deal.

Earlier, speaking during the discussion, Nadda said the Commerce Minister had said that India and the US would work together to finalise the details of the deal. He said there had been drastic changes during the tenure of the Narendra Modi government and that “right response” was given to Pakistan after the Uri, Pulwama and Pahalgam terror attacks.

Taking a dig at the Opposition, Nadda asked Skill Development Minister Jayant Chaudhary to start “skill development” for the parties. “You have not been able to become credible in 11 years,” he said to the Opposition.