'Whether it's an FIR, a lawsuit, or a breach of privilege motion, I'll stand with farmers': What more Rahul Gandhi said?
Former Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, reacting to the trade agreement with the US on Thursday, said that no matter what agreement is reached, if it harms farmers, he will stand with the farmers.
He said that he opposes any agreement that weakens the country's food security and threatens to take away their livelihood. He said that the agreement with the US is not in the best interests of the country's farmers, and therefore, he will fight against it alongside the farmers.
Gandhi wrote on social media on Thursday, "Whether it's an FIR, a lawsuit, or a breach of privilege motion, I will fight for the farmers. Any trade deal that takes away the livelihood of farmers or weakens the country's food security is anti-farmer. I will not allow the anti-farmer Modi government to compromise the interests of the farmers."
He stated that he will fight for the farmers, and will not be intimidated by an FIR or a lawsuit filed against him, and will continue to fight for them. He stated that he will not accept any trade deal that takes away the livelihood of farmers or weakens the country's food security, and that any such deal is anti-farmer.
'Agreement opens the doors of Indian agriculture to America'
The Congress leader also issued a statement attacking the central government over the India-US trade deal. Calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi "anti-farmer," he alleged that the agreement opens the doors of Indian agriculture to America, posing a threat to the country's farmers and food security.
Rahul Gandhi said that the deal calls for the removal of non-tariff barriers on American agricultural products, which are against Indian farmers. This is a direct attack on farmers' interests. He claimed that cotton, soybean, sorghum, fruit, and nuts farmers are already under pressure, and it will be impossible for small Indian farmers to compete with cheap, subsidized American agriculture.
Rahul also alleged that farmers were not consulted on this agreement, nor was Parliament fully informed. He said that the Congress Party will fight with farmers from the streets to Parliament and will raise its voice at every level to protect the country's food security.