Arvind Kejriwal (File Photo)
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday launched a fast attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which the government accused American cotton of “cheating farmers” after removing 11% import duty on US cotton. Connecting the decision to increase trade tension with the United States, Kejriwal also called US President Donald Trump a “coward” to put a tariff on American goods.Earlier today, the Center extended duty-free imports of cotton for three more months till 31 December to support textile exporters facing 50% tariffs in the US.Kejriwal said at a press conference in Delhi, “PM Modi has taken some decisions behind our back which is a big betrayal with the farmers of the entire country.” “Recently, under the pressure of Trump and America, it has been decided that the cotton coming from the US to India, so far, was 11 percent of the duty on it. In the last few days, in the last few days, the Modi government has decided that 11 percent of the duty has been removed. Now, no fee will be imposed on cotton coming from the US from August 19 to September 30.,
The AAP chief warned that American cotton will now be Rs 15-20 cheaply per kg compared to Indian yield, leaving domestic farmers in damage. “In the last few days, PM Modi has taken some decisions which are very harmful for the farmers of our country and ninety percent of the farmers do not know. Once applied these decisions, they will not be left an alternative to committing suicide,” he claimed.Kejriwal also targeted Trump directly, calling him weak in front of countries who opposed Washington’s pressure. “Trump is a coward. Trump has tilted in front of the countries who have stood firmly against him. I do not know what is the compulsion of PM Modi that he is not saying anything, ”he said.Washington came to a comment after the announcement of 50% tariff on Indian goods, which cite continuous purchases of India’s concessional Russian oil. White House business advisor Peter Navaro has described the Ukraine War as a “war of Modi” and argued that India’s oil imports are helping Moscow to fund their aggressive. New Delhi has rejected additional tariffs as “inappropriate and inappropriate”, saying that it will take necessary measures to protect national interests.Kejriwal demanded that India also respond with difficult trade measures. “If Trump has imposed a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods, we should impose 100 percent tariff on American goods. Are we a weak nation? It is a country of 140 million people. We have a big market. No country can tolerate to offend India,” he said that the whole country will support high tariffs on our imports.
