Kejriwal questions govt’s ‘weakness’ before US, calls for strong tariff response

AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday accused the Modi government of betraying Indian farmers by removing import duties on American cotton, warning that the move could crash domestic prices below Rs 900 and push farmers towards financial distress and potential suicides.

The AAP supremo, currently on a two-day visit to Gujarat, asserted that PM Modi was “sacrificing farmers’ interests to protect Adani and please Trump,” while ignoring the plight of diamond workers hit by a 50 percent US tariff.

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Asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “show courage”, Kejriwal said, “The whole country is with you, PM Modi. Impose a 75% tariff on all American goods. The nation will bear it, but Trump will be forced to back down. The world bows down when confronted by strength. Why is our government acting weak?”

Addressing a press conference after his scheduled Kisan Mahapanchayat in Chotila was postponed due to heavy rains, Kejriwal said that the Modi government’s decision to remove the 11 percent import duty on American cotton amounts to a betrayal of India’s farmers.

Arvind Kejriwal said that cotton farmers, who had taken loans to sow crops in June–July, were expecting fair prices at harvest in October–November, but were unaware that the Modi government had removed the 11% import duty on American cotton, initially for 40 days from August 19 and now extended till December 31, undermining domestic prices and disadvantaging Indian farmers.

The AAP supremo noted, “With this decision, American cotton has become cheaper than Indian cotton, and textile companies have already started placing massive orders from the US. This means our farmers’ cotton will not sell, and they will be left with no option but suicide.”

“Once cheaper US cotton floods our markets, our farmers will get less than Rs 900. This is making American farmers rich while bankrupting India’s farmers,” he declared.

Arvind Kejriwal raised the question of why the Modi government was bending to US pressure. “Rumours are spreading that Adani is facing a very serious case in America and risks imprisonment. To save him, Modi doesn’t want to anger Trump. Under Trump’s pressure and bullying, our government has pushed our farmers to suicide by removing cotton import duty,” he stated.

AAP placed four key demands before the Centre, including restoring the 11% import duty on American cotton, guaranteeing a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2,100 per 20 kg for Indian cotton, ensuring procurement of cotton at MSP, rather than just price fixation, and providing subsidies on inputs like seeds and fertilisers to reduce farmers’ costs.

He also stated that lakhs of diamond workers in Surat, who cut and polish diamonds for export to the US, have been severely impacted after the US imposed a 50% tariff on Indian polished diamonds.

“Other nations like Canada, the EU, and Mexico retaliated when Trump imposed tariffs on them—and Trump backed down. But in India, instead of standing up to America, Modi removed duties on cotton imports! Why is our government weak? We are a nation of 140 crore people with a massive consumer market. If America imposes a 50% tariff, Modi should impose a 100% tariff on American cotton. If countries show Trump their eyes, he bows. Why can’t India do the same?”