All India Kisan Sabha on Saturday said that in the pretext of US high tariffs, the Modi Government is helping Corporations by imposing zero tariffs to cotton imports. Under the pretext of 6 per cent textile export to the US, the Modi Government permits corporate loot of 60 lakh cotton farmers. AIKS calls to burn cotton tariff exemption notification in villages from September 1- 3, 2025, hold March to the offices of MPs in the cotton regions as called by Samyukta Kisan Morcha, said AIKS leaders Vijoo Krishnan and Ashok Dhawale.
“On 28th August 2025, the Ministry of Finance extended the duty exemption for cotton import till 31st December 2025. The export to the USA constitutes merely 6 per cent of Indian textile exports and below 1.5 per cent of the accumulated value of the textile industry. In 2024, the textile and apparel industry in India amounts to Rs 15, 13, 850 crore of which Rs 12, 34,400 crore comes under the domestic market. The export market is Rs 3,21,900 crore and out of which the export to the US amounts to only Rs 20,984 crore in the year 2024. But under the pretext of the crisis in the textile export sector due to the 50 per cent tariff imposed on India by the US, affecting merely 6per cent of Indian textile exports the Modi Government has permitted the monopoly trade and industrial corporate companies to have zero percent tariff on imports to depress domestic prices of cotton.
This will result in the looting of the 60 lakh farmers who are already facing severe distress and committing suicide,” said AIKS in a statement.
AIKS called all its units to launch an intense agitation to force the Government to cancel the notification permitting the elimination of the 11 per cent tariff on cotton import. AIKS appeals to farmers to burn copies of the notification in villages from September 1-3, 2025 as per the call given by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha.
AIKS appeals to the farmers to join the march to the offices of the respective Members of Parliament in the cotton-growing regions, as called by the SKM leadership at the state level, said AIKS.