Aam Aadmi Celebration (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on 28 August accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of dealing the farmers a devastating betrayal by waiving import responsibility on US cotton, allegedly beneath strain from US President Donald Trump.
Kejriwal’s remarks got here hours after the Narendra Modi-led Union authorities prolonged the exemption on uncooked cotton import responsibility and agriculture cess till 31 December 2025. The extension got here a day after the US 50 per cent tariffs on Indian items took impact.
Kejriwal, the previous chief minister of Delhi, stated that the Narendra Modi authorities had prolonged the waiver from the sooner 30 September deadline to 31 December, guaranteeing that American cotton—15–20 per cent cheaper than Indian produce—would flood the market earlier than Indian farmers carry their harvest to mandis.
Because of this, he warned, the textile business could have already purchased its provides, leaving Indian farmers no alternative however to promote their cotton at throwaway costs.
“So the Modi authorities has waived the responsibility on American cotton till December 31. Modi ji has dedicated a large betrayal of the farmers. Modi ji has fully bowed down earlier than Trump. This isn’t solely harmful for farmers, industries, and employment but additionally an assault on the dignity of 140 crore Indians,” Kejriwal stated in a put up on X.
Kejriwal demanded that the Modi authorities instantly withdraw the order scrapping the 11 per cent responsibility on American cotton and restore it to guard Indian farmers.
The import responsibility aid, which was initially notified for the interval between 19 August and 30 September, has now been expanded to cowl the final three months of the 12 months, in response to the finance ministry. Earlier than the exemption, cotton imports into India attracted a mixed responsibility of round 11 per cent.
“Why is Modi ji bowing earlier than Trump? The nation desires to know what his compulsion is? The extra you bow earlier than Trump, the extra he’ll make you bow. Give him a befitting reply not less than as soon as. Then see how he turns right into a meek cat. Whichever nation has bravely responded to Trump, Trump has needed to bow earlier than them,” Kejriwal stated.
Later, addressing a press convention, flanked by Delhi Unit President Saurabh Bharadwaj and Delhi Meeting LoP Atishi, slammed the Union authorities for taking selections in ‘full secrecy.’
“In current days, beneath strain from President Trump, PM Modi determined to waive import responsibility on cotton coming from the US between August 19 and September 30. Then, on August 28, the central authorities went a step additional and surrendered to Trump by extending this waiver till December 31. Till now, cotton imported from the US was topic to an 11% responsibility. That is nothing however a deep fraud in opposition to our farmers,” Kejriwal stated on the press convention.
Kejriwal famous that whereas the MSP was ₹7,000 per quintal, farmers have been unable to promote their cotton at that price and have been compelled to finally at lower than ₹6,000 by the top of the season. “This 12 months, even that won’t be obtainable,” he cautioned. He stated that throughout the nation, lakhs and crores of farmers and their members of the family shall be affected, with cotton farmers in Gujarat, Vidarbha, Telangana, and Punjab being the worst-hit, he stated.
The AAP chief criticised PM Modi over what he referred to as Trump’s bullying techniques and levying tariffs on India.
“The US imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India. What ought to India have carried out? We should always have raised the responsibility on US cotton from 11 per cent to 50 per cent. That’s precisely what different international locations did,” Kejriwal stated.
