Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for questioning a potential India-US trade deal involving agricultural products. Vaishnaw stated that Gandhi lacks knowledge of trade and technology. This exchange reflects the ongoing political discourse on India’s trade policies and their impact on local farmers.
Rahul Gandhi, in his social media post, raised concerns about the implications of the US trade deal on India’s agricultural sector. He questioned the consequences of importing DDG from GM American corn for Indian cattle and the potential integration of India’s dairy chain with the US agricultural system. Gandhi also highlighted the challenges that Indian soybean farmers could face due to imports of GM soya oil, which might lead to price shocks and market disruptions.
In addition, Gandhi expressed worries about the ambiguity in the trade deal’s provisions, particularly regarding the inclusion of ‘additional products’ and the removal of ‘non-trade barriers’. He emphasized the need for clarity on how the deal could impact Indian crops, minimum support prices, and government procurement systems. Gandhi underscored the importance of transparency in ensuring that India’s agricultural sector remains safeguarded from long-term foreign influence.
Neither the Prime Minister’s Office nor the Ministry of Commerce has responded directly to Rahul Gandhi’s queries at this time.
