Chandigarh, Feb 4: The Aam Aadmi Party Punjab has raised serious concerns regarding a purported “secret trade deal” between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, claiming the agreement will devastate the domestic agricultural economy.
During a press conference in Chandigarh on Wednesday, AAP Punjab Chief Spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal noted that the details of this agreement are surfacing through foreign social media posts rather than official Indian government channels. He questioned why crucial policy shifts affecting 80 crore people are being shared by a foreign leader while the Prime Minister remains silent in Parliament.
“Who is Trump to the people of India? He may be Mr. Modi’s friend, but why is he announcing India’s policies on social media while the Prime Minister maintains silence?” Dhaliwal asked. He suggested that the deal aims to allow American agricultural goods into the country at zero tax, which would flood the local markets with cheaper imports and cripple the livelihoods of Indian growers.
The AAP leader mentioned that the move appears to be an attempt to reintroduce previous controversial farm policies through alternative means. He also pointed to potential health risks from chemical-heavy imports and warned that a shift in oil procurement from Russia to the US could spark massive inflation.
“This is not trade. This is surrender,” Dhaliwal directly said. He noted that the BJP is prioritizing corporate interests over the survival of the farming community. The spokesperson further challenged Punjab’s BJP leadership to address the threat this poses to the state’s wheat and cotton belts, as well as the dairy and poultry sectors.
Dhaliwal demanded that the Prime Minister disclose the full terms of the agreement in the Lok Sabha. He stated that the party is prepared to join farmers in protesting the deal on the streets and within legislative houses to ensure the interests of Punjab and the nation are protected.
