The BRICS TimesAAP leader Arvind Kejriwal accused the Modi government of betraying Indian farmers by removing the 11 percent duty on American cotton imports, warning that it will leave domestic farmers unable to sell their produce and push them towards suicide. He alleged that the Prime Minister has deceived the farmers of the country.
Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal launched a scathing attack on the central government, accusing it of betraying the farming community by removing the import duty on American cotton. Addressing a press conference in Ahmedabad, he said that by waiving the 11 percent import duty, the Modi government has committed a serious injustice against India’s cotton farmers.
Kejriwal explained that this decision will make American cotton cheaper than Indian cotton by nearly 15 to 20 rupees per kilo, which means Indian farmers will be forced to sell their produce at less than 900 rupees per quintal. According to him, this steep price drop will push farmers into unbearable financial distress, leaving many with no option but to take their own lives. He further claimed, “The Prime Minister is sacrificing India’s farmers only to protect Adani’s interests and to please Donald Trump.” Demanding corrective action, Kejriwal insisted that the 11 percent duty on American cotton must be reinstated, farmers should receive a minimum support price (MSP) of 2100 rupees for 20 kilos of cotton, and subsidies should be given on seeds and fertilizers to reduce the rising cost of cultivation.
He added that Sunday’s farmers’ “Mahapanchayat” in Chotila had to be postponed due to heavy rains, after which AAP leaders reached Ahmedabad. Speaking at the press meet, he pointed out that Indian farmers had already sown cotton during June and July by taking loans to buy seeds, fertilizers, and to pay wages. The cotton crop is expected to be ready for harvest by October–November, and farmers had hoped for good returns in the mandi. However, “farmers are unaware that the central government has betrayed them in this way,” Kejriwal said.
He reminded that until recently, cotton imported from the US carried an 11 percent duty, which made it costlier than Indian cotton, thereby protecting the domestic market. With that duty in place, cotton grown by Indian farmers sold easily in mandis, while American imports remained unsold. “From August 19, the Modi government removed this import duty, making American cotton cheaper by 15–20 rupees per kilo compared to Indian cotton. As a result, Indian cotton will no longer find buyers, because textile companies have already begun placing large orders for cheaper American cotton,” he alleged.
The AAP leader warned that the temporary waiver of import duty, which was initially meant only till September 30, has now been extended till December 31, leaving farmers with no chance to sell their harvest. “Farmers have already borrowed money for seeds, fertilizers, and labor. Now without buyers, how will they repay their loans? The only path left before them will be suicide,” he said.
Kejriwal also compared the situation with past years, pointing out that in 2013 farmers in Gujarat received 1500–1700 rupees per quintal for cotton. Before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi had himself declared that cotton prices were too low and should be at least 2500 rupees per quintal. “Forget about 2500, today farmers barely get 1200 rupees per quintal in the market, which is even 300 rupees less than before, while the costs of seeds, fertilizers, and labor have all gone up,” he said.
He argued that the import decision would only enrich American farmers while driving Indian cotton growers, particularly in Gujarat, into extreme poverty. Questioning the central government, he said, “Why is the Modi government so helpless before America? Rumors are rife that the Prime Minister does not want to upset Trump at any cost because he wants to protect Adani’s interests. Trump is twisting our government’s arm, and under his pressure, Modi has removed the duty on American cotton, forcing our farmers towards suicide.”
Reiterating his demands, Kejriwal urged the government to re-impose the 11 percent duty on US cotton, guarantee an MSP of 2100 rupees per quintal, ensure government procurement of cotton at MSP, and provide subsidies on inputs such as seeds and fertilizers which have become unaffordable for farmers.
He also highlighted that not just cotton farmers but diamond workers in Gujarat are suffering under America’s trade policies while the Modi government remains passive. “Lakhs of artisans in Surat who polish diamonds and export them to America are now jobless because the US has imposed a 50 percent tariff on polished diamonds from India. Our government has done nothing in response, even as these workers struggle to pay school fees for their children or even manage two meals a day,” Kejriwal said.
He contrasted India’s response with that of other countries, recalling that when the US imposed tariffs on Canada, the European Union, and Mexico, these countries retaliated with equal or higher tariffs, forcing Trump to roll back the duties. “But when Trump imposed tariffs on India, instead of hitting back, the Modi government went a step further and removed the 11 percent duty on American cotton. Why did we act so weak, despite being a nation of 1.4 billion people and the world’s largest market? All American companies want access to India’s market. The Prime Minister should have responded with a 100 percent tariff on American cotton imports, which would have compelled Trump to step back,” he argued.
“Why is PM Modi not giving a strong reply to America? Will he risk the entire nation just to save Adani?” Kejriwal asked, adding that the people of Surat have been left to starve without jobs due to the diamond tariff crisis. He demanded that India retaliate with a 75 percent tariff on goods coming from America, just as Trump has imposed 50 percent duty on Indian exports.
The AAP leader did not spare Congress either, criticizing the opposition for remaining silent on the removal of import duty on American cotton. “It is shocking that Congress is silent on this issue. It proves that the party neither cares for the farmers nor for the diamond workers of the country,” he remarked.
