New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday posed five questions to the Centre regarding the implications of the proposed India–US trade agreement on Indian farmers.
In a post on X, Gandhi said, “We are witnessing a betrayal of India’s farmers in the name of a US trade deal,” and sought clarity from the government on several aspects of the proposed arrangement.
The Congress MP, who has been criticising the BJP-led government over the trade deal both inside and outside Parliament in recent days, questioned the potential import of DDG (Dried Distillers Grains). He asked whether this would mean Indian cattle being fed distillers grain made from genetically modified (GM) American corn and whether such a move could make India’s milk production dependent on the US agricultural industry.
Gandhi also raised concerns about the possible import of genetically modified soybean oil. He questioned the impact such imports could have on soybean farmers in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, asking how they would cope with another potential price shock.
Seeking further details, he asked what was meant by the term “additional products” in the context of the trade agreement. He also questioned whether this signalled future pressure to open up imports of pulses and other crops from the United States.
On the issue of “non-trade barriers,” Gandhi asked what the term entailed and whether India could face pressure to soften its stance on GM crops, weaken procurement mechanisms, or reduce Minimum Support Price (MSP) and bonuses.
He further sought to know whether safeguards would be put in place to protect domestic agriculture, and how the government intended to prevent a gradual expansion of import commitments in successive trade agreements.
The Centre has not yet issued a detailed response to the specific questions raised by the Leader of Opposition.
