Union ministers accuse Rahul of spreading lies over India-US trade deal
Two Union ministers on Friday charged Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi with spreading lies about the India-US trade deal and asserted that farmers’ interests have been “fully protected” under the agreement.
In video messages posted on social media, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal described Rahul Gandhi as a “habitual liar” who does not want farmers to be empowered.
The ministers’ remarks came after Rahul Gandhi, in a video message posted on social media, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being “anti-farmer” and “selling” the country through the India-US interim trade deal.
Hitting out at the former Congress chief, Goyal said, “In a video released today, he has broken all records of speaking falsehood and made baseless allegations. He is misleading our farmers with his fake narrative and trying to provoke our annadatas (farmers). He has never cared for our motherland, nor can we expect him to ever work for a strong and prosperous future for India.”
Goyal said major crops, including wheat, rice, millets, soybean, corn, GM food products, spices and potatoes, have been “fully safeguarded”.
“We have also fully protected the interest of farmers producing major fruits, including apples. India’s doors have not been opened for dairy products or poultry,” he added.
Goyal said the truth is that as a result of the trade deal, many products, including basmati rice, fruits, spices, tea and marine products, will find new markets and boost India’s exports and farmers’ income. “We have opened huge markets for cotton textile exports, which will increase the demand for cotton manifold, benefitting our cotton farmers,” the minister said.
PM Modi has always been empathetic towards farmers and has taken all decisions to ensure their prosperity, he said. “In the recent trade deal with the US, the interest of farmers has been kept paramount, and (has been) fully protected,” Goyal added.
