Chandigarh, February 11, 2026: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Chief Spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Wednesday strongly criticised Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar for supporting the proposed India–US trade deal, describing the agreement as the biggest “betrayal” of the country’s farmers.
Addressing a press conference along with AAP leader Prabhvir Brar, Dhaliwal challenged Jakhar to make the actual draft of the agreement public instead of defending it in media statements.
Citing tariff figures, Dhaliwal alleged that the Trump administration has imposed an 18 percent tariff on Indian goods, while the Modi government has reduced taxes on American goods to zero. He questioned how the deal could be termed fair if American farmers can sell their produce in India without paying tax, whereas Indian farmers face an 18 percent tariff in the US market.
“How is this in the national interest?” Dhaliwal asked.
Warning over impact on Indian farmers
Dhaliwal claimed that the agreement would allow American “red sorghum” to enter Indian markets in large quantities, affecting farmers cultivating maize, millets and sorghum in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
He further warned that zero tariffs on American food products could harm apple growers in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, as well as almond and walnut producers in the region.
Political attack on Sunil Jakhar
Taking a sharp dig at Jakhar, Dhaliwal compared his support for the trade deal to the Shiromani Akali Dal’s earlier backing of the now-repealed farm laws. He cautioned Jakhar against “meeting the same political fate.”
Dhaliwal also remarked that Jakhar had previously supported the Gandhi family during his time in the Congress and is now praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he is compromising national interests.
Demand for transparency
The AAP leader said that details of the trade deal have so far emerged only through statements and tweets by Donald Trump, and that the Prime Minister has neither addressed Parliament on the matter nor taken the country into confidence.
He alleged that the government has “mortgaged the country’s interests” and asserted that the issue concerns not only farmers but the entire nation.
Dhaliwal announced that he would continue to raise the matter daily and expose what he termed the BJP’s anti-farmer stance.
