Kuldeep Dhaliwal on India–US Trade Deal: AAP leader MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal launched a sharp attack over the reported trade developments, alleging that while former US President Donald Trump imposed an 18% tax on Indian goods, the Modi government allowed American products to enter India at zero tax, which he claimed could harm Indian farmers and domestic markets. Targeting Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, Dhaliwal demanded that he stop “beating around the bush” and make the draft of the alleged deal public, accusing him of misleading farmers.
Drawing a political comparison, Dhaliwal said that just as the Badal family had supported the three controversial farm laws, Jakhar was now advocating a similar deal, warning him to be cautious and not face the same political consequences as the Akalis while “serving Modi.”
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab’s chief spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, while strongly criticising Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar for advocating the India–US trade deal, termed the agreement the biggest “betrayal” of the country’s farmers. Dhaliwal directly challenged Jakhar to make the actual draft of the deal public instead of singing praise for it in the media.
Kuldeep Dhaliwal on India–US Trade Deal
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, along with AAP leader Prabhvir Brar, Dhaliwal, citing figures, said that the Trump administration has increased tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, whereas the Modi government, completely bowed down, and reduced taxes on American goods to zero.
He questioned how this could be called a fair deal when American farmers would be able to sell their produce in India without any tax, while Indian farmers would have to pay an 18% tax in America. How is this in the country’s interest?
Dhaliwal warned that through this deal, America’s “red sorghum” would capture Indian markets, leading to the ruin of farmers growing maize, millets, and sorghum in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. He said that due to zero tariffs on American food, apple, almond, and walnut producers in Kashmir and Himachal would also be pushed onto the streets.
Dhaliwal slams Sunil Jakhar over India–US deal, alleges silence of Centre and vows to keep exposing ‘anti-farmer’ policies daily
Taking a dig at Sunil Jakhar, Dhaliwal said that Jakhar Sahib is advocating for this deal today just as the Badal family once advocated for the three black farm laws. Today, the political condition of the Akali Dal is obvious to everyone. While serving Modi, make sure you do not meet the same fate as the Akalis. He said that earlier, Jakhar served the Gandhi family while in Congress, and now, by singing praises of Modi, he is bent on selling out the country’s interests.
The AAP spokesperson said that so far, information about this deal has only come from Trump’s tweets. The Prime Minister has neither said anything in Parliament nor taken the country into confidence. He said that the Prime Minister has mortgaged the country to America.
Dhaliwal said that this fight is not just of the farmers but of the entire country. He announced that he would speak up daily against every lie of Jakhar and would continue to expose the anti-farmer face of the BJP.
