Warns against allowing agriculture imports as it will sound death knell for agriculture
Modi owes an explanation to farmers: Warring
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring today expressed grave concern over the provision of “zero tariffs” on the US imports to India in the Indo-US trade deal, apprehending that it may include the agriculture products also.
In a statement issued here today, he said, since there was no clarity on the matter, there was genuine apprehension among the farmers, particularly in Punjab, that agricultural products will be allowed into the country without any tariff. This will sound death knell for the agriculture economy, he warned.
“There are genuine fears and apprehensions among the farmers across the country, Punjab in particular, over the Modi government succumbing to the US pressure by agreeing to ‘zero tariffs’ on US imports, while Indian products will be charged 18 percent tariff”, he said, adding, “if the imports include the agriculture products also, which will come under zero tariffs, it will sound the death knell for the farmers and crash the agriculture economy across the country and Punjab would be the worst hit”.
Warring said, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi owes an explanation to the nation in general and the farmers in particular that their interests have not been compromised. “Otherwise, the government must be prepared to face the wrath of farmers”, he warned, while pointing out, “not only the farmers’ survival, but the country’s survival is at the stake”.