Rahul Gandhi on Sunday intensified his attack on the Centre over the India–US trade pact, alleging that India's farmers have been "betrayed" in the name of the agreement and posing five pointed questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Leader of Opposition said the deal could have serious implications for genetically modified (GM) crops, soya farmers and India's agricultural safeguards. Taking to social media, he questioned what importing DDG (distillers' dried grains) would mean for the dairy sector, asking whether Indian cattle would be fed grain derived from GM American corn and whether that would integrate India's dairy chain with the US agricultural system.
He also raised concerns over the potential impact of allowing GM soya oil imports on farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, warning of possible price shocks. Questioning references to "additional products" and removal of "non-trade barriers," Gandhi asked whether this signalled future pressure to open up pulses and other sensitive crops to US imports, dilute India's stance on GM crops, weaken procurement systems, or undermine MSP and bonuses.
Calling for clear safeguards, Gandhi said the issue was about preventing long-term dependence on another country's agricultural system and ensuring that farmers' interests remain protected in future negotiation rounds.
Responding from Gandhinagar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah rejected the allegations, asserting that India's agriculture, dairy and fisheries sectors were fully safeguarded in all trade agreements with the United States and the European Union. He accused the Congress of misleading farmers and said the Modi government had ensured complete protection of their interests in every pact.
Amit Shah highlighted that the agriculture budget had increased significantly under the Modi government and claimed that procurement at Minimum Support Price had risen sharply compared to the previous UPA regime. He also stressed that direct income support was being transferred to farmers' bank accounts and that the dairy sector had been strengthened, not weakened, under recent agreements.
Challenging Gandhi to a public debate, Shah maintained that the government's trade negotiations, including recent developments following talks between PM Modi and US President Donald Trump, were carried out with full protection for Indian farmers.
