New Delhi/Chandigarh, February 4
The Sirsa MP, former Cabinet Minister and AICC General Secretary Kumari Selja has expressed serious concern over reports emerging about the proposed India–United States trade deal. Selja said the proposed agreement could prove highly detrimental, particularly for farmers in Haryana and Punjab. The government, which had promised to double farmers’ income by 2022 and ensure a guarantee on MSP, now appears to be compromising farmers’ interests once again. If the agriculture sector is opened to international competition without adequate safeguard measures, it will have a direct adverse impact on the livelihoods of farming families.
Selja said that announcements regarding the deal have so far appeared as unilateral statements, with indications from the US side suggesting that India may be agreeing to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to near zero. Such signals raise serious questions about the protection of national interests. Opening the Indian market on such a wide scale would directly affect domestic industry, small and medium enterprises, traders and farmers. While there is talk of opening the agricultural sector, there is no clarity on how farmers’ interests will be safeguarded, which is a matter of concern for both the rural economy and food security.
Selja said the reports suggesting a shift away from oil purchases from Russia and increased dependence on the US and Venezuela. She questioned whether this, if part of a trade agreement, could have far-reaching implications for the country’s energy policy and strategic balance. Any such decision, she said, must place national interest above all else. Selja warned that a sharp rise in imports from the US could undermine the objectives of ‘Make in India’ and self-reliance. The potential impact of such a move on domestic manufacturing and employment, she said, must be assessed and placed in the public domain. Selja said that complete transparency on every aspect of the trade deal is essential. The country and Parliament have a right to know the exact terms and conditions agreed upon.
Selja demanded that the government issue a White Paper without delay and make all facts public so that informed discussion can take place among elected representatives and citizens. She concluded by stating that any final decision must be taken only after duly considering national interest, the security of farmers, the stability of industry and trade, and the country’s long-term energy strategy.
