Shivraj dismisses opposition allegations, says Indian farmers’ interests protected in India-US trade deal

New Delhi: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan dismissed the opposition’s allegations regarding the India-US trade deal, stating that the interests of Indian farmers have not been compromised in the agreement. He clarified that no agricultural or dairy products that could harm Indian agriculture are included in the agreement, and all sensitive items have been completely excluded.

Speaking at a press conference, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that no genetically modified (GM) agricultural products of any kind will be allowed into India. This decision is crucial for protecting the purity of Indian agriculture, soil, and seeds. He emphasized that national interest and farmers’ interests are the government’s top priority.

The Agriculture Minister stated that the US has not been given any tariff concessions on products such as meat, poultry, dairy, soybeans, corn, rice, wheat, sugar, coarse grains, bananas, strawberries, cherries, citrus fruits, pulses, oilseeds, ethanol, and tobacco. Furthermore, peeled grains, flour, potatoes, onions, vegetables, frozen foods, fruits, and canned vegetables will also not be imported from the US. He said that dairy products such as milk, milk powder, yogurt, butter, ghee, paneer, and cheese will also not be allowed into India, thus completely safeguarding the livelihoods of farming families. In the case of spices, almost all major Indian spices, including black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, coriander, and ginger, have been excluded from the agreement.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that the opposition was unnecessarily creating a ruckus, claiming that agriculture would be ruined, but the truth is that all major products that are the strength of Indian farmers are safe. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, saying that the government has proven that the interests of the country and its farmers will not be compromised.