'Aatmanirbhar or America-nirbhar?': Congress fires more shots at Modi govt over trade deal with US

New Delhi: Congress on Monday accused the Modi government of making the country “America-nirbhar” (US dependent) instead of “Aatmanirbhar” (self reliant) through the Indo-US trade deal, which it said was an attack on the livelihoods of farmers and compromising energy security.

General Secretary Randeep Surjewala asked whether the trade deal was due to “coercion” and why the government was accepting it when its contours pave the way for introduction of GM products, detrimental to cotton farmers and others, impact India’s energy security and create imbalance in trade.

He told a press conference that the deal was a direct attack on the lives and livelihood of farmers by permitting imports of American agricultural and food products including Dried Distillers Grains (DDG), soybean oil and sorghum.

“Instead of standing firm in defence of Indian interests, a supposedly ‘strong’ government has surrendered India’s self-reliance and independence. People are now asking, is this a ‘strong government’ or a ‘meek - weak - helpless’ government? Is it ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ or ‘America-nirbhar Bharat’?” he said.

By agreeing to remove non-tariff barriers, he claimed that this would mean that India has agreed to do away with subsidies for farmers. He said the US gave USD 16 billion in subsidies in 2025 and in contrast India gives its farmers just Rs 6,000 a year while taking back much more through expensive diesel, fertilisers, electricity and pesticides.

“Even the remaining benefits given to farmers are now being snatched away through this agreement. This decision is extremely dangerous for the entire farming community,” he said.

He said DDG is processed maize and the US, which produces 42.5 crore tonnes of maize annually, needs a market to sell the surplus, while India produces 430 lakh tonnes. He said its import will impact maize production in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana and Gujarat.

On sorghum, he said India produces 52 lakh tonnes mainly in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat, MP and UP while US produces 87 lakh tonnes, which is the highest in the world. “If duty free American sorghum is permitted, what will happen to Indian farmers,” he said, adding the same is the case with soybean oil.

He said the “biggest impact” will be on cotton farmers in the country, as the deal is a “double whammy” for India.

Claiming that the Modi government has “opened the floodgates for duty-free import” of American cotton while attracting 18% duty on textile exports, he said at the same time, India will also lose the Bangladesh market, as Dhaka, which buys 50% of its cotton requirement from India, will stop importing cotton from the country.

He said India does not allow GM crop imports because they have the potential to destroy the purity of indigenous seeds, biodiversity and over two lakh native varieties.

“But if processed maize, jowar, soybean and other products come from America, will they not directly harm India’s biodiversity and purity of our seed lineage? Has the Modi government quietly allowed GM crop imports through the back door?” he asked.

He also criticised the US pressure on India not to buy Russian oil and said it is a “direct compromise of India’s sovereignty and self reliance,” he said.