Bhopal: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Sunday dismissed opposition criticism of the India–US trade agreement, asserting that the pact has been crafted with strong safeguards for Indian agriculture and places farmers’ welfare at the centre of all decisions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Bhopal, Chauhan said the allegations being levelled by opposition parties were “unfounded” and aimed at creating confusion. He stressed that no provision in the agreement threatens domestic farmers or the agricultural economy. “Not a single item has been included that could harm Indian cultivators, even marginally,” Shivraj Singh Chauhan said, adding that all sensitive commodities have been deliberately kept out.
The minister’s remarks came a day after the Congress claimed that the agreement disproportionately favoured the United States and was signed under external pressure, accusing the Prime Minister of compromising national interest. Rejecting the charge, Chauhan said the narrative being pushed by the opposition ignores the actual contents of the pact.
“Our core agricultural strengths have been protected. National interest and farmers’ interest have guided every step,” he said, recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurance that India would not bend to pressure or allow any deal that undermines rural livelihoods.
Chauhan also underlined that genetically modified farm products would not be permitted into the country under the agreement, calling it a crucial step to preserve the integrity of Indian farming. “This decision protects our soil, our seeds and the traditional practices of our farmers,” he noted.
Listing items excluded from the trade arrangement, the minister said there would be no duty concessions on products such as meat, poultry, dairy items, cereals, pulses, oilseeds, sugar, fruits, vegetables, spices, ethanol and tobacco. He added that a wide range of processed and frozen foods, along with dairy products in all forms, would also remain barred from imports.
According to Chauhan, these measures are intended to shield small and marginal farmers from market disruptions and safeguard rural incomes. He also highlighted that Indian spices — a key export and livelihood source for millions — have been kept outside the agreement.
Taking a broader swipe at the Congress, the agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said previous governments failed to integrate farmers into global markets or provide long-term economic stability. “Today, India is moving rapidly towards becoming one of the world’s top economies, and this growth is being pursued without compromising farmers’ interests,” he said.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera continued to criticise the agreement, alleging that it dilutes India’s bargaining position with Washington and serves corporate interests over those of ordinary citizens. The government, however, maintains that the pact balances trade objectives with the protection of domestic agriculture.
