Gandhinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday accused the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi of spreading lies about India’s trade agreements with the US, UK, and the European Union and misleading farmers. He said the government has fully protected the country’s agriculture and dairy sectors.
He dismissed the opposition party’s allegations that the trade agreement would harm Indian farmers as laughable. He said, “I laugh when Congress prince Rahul Gandhi stands in Parliament and talks about protecting farmers.”
Shah said, “Congress has a long history of misleading the country, and now they are spreading lies about trade deals.” Shah was addressing a gathering in Gandhinagar after launching India’s first Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based public distribution system. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government have ensured complete protection of farmers’ interests in every agreement.
He said, “I want to assure the farmers, cattle herders, and fishermen of this country that Narendra Modi has taken full care of your interests in every trade deal signed with the European Union, England, and the United States. There is no need to worry.”
Referring to Congress’s criticism that these agreements will destroy India’s dairy sector, Shah said that Rahul Gandhi is spreading lies that PM Modi has destroyed India’s dairy sector by signing these deals. The Union Minister said, “We are the ones who have strengthened the dairy sector, not weakened it. All the agreements provide full protection to the dairy sector.” Shah challenged Gandhi to a public debate on the issue.
He said, “Rahul Gandhi ji, choose any platform. The BJP Yuva Morcha president can also come and debate with you on who has harmed the farmers and who has worked for their welfare.”
Following a phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, both sides recently announced a reduction in US tariffs on Indian goods from 50 percent to 18 percent.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal had earlier said that last month, India and the European Union (EU) completed negotiations for a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which will boost both-way commerce and strengthen economic ties between the two sides.
