Chouhan hits back at Rahul; says no GM products permitted under Indo-US deal
The Gandhi scion also sought to know whether India will be pressured in the future to loosen its stance on GM crops, weaken procurement, or reduce MSPs and bonuses
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday asserted that no genetically modified (GM) products have been permitted under the India-US trade deal, in response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “betrayal of farmers” remark.
In a strongly-worded reaction on X, the minister said, “Rahul Gandhi is spreading lies day and night, and indulging in negative and misleading politics. No GM crops or GM-based products have been approved in any deal with the United States. Gandhi’s concerns over DDGS (Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles) are baseless.”
“The country understands the anti-farmer character of the Congress, whether in power or in opposition,” he added.
His response came after the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha sought a clarification from the government over possible GM imports, soybean oil, and removal of “non-trade barriers” in the proposed trade pact, warning of risks to farmers and MSP safeguards.
Countering the Congress leader on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) issue, Chouhan said the opposition party had failed to implement the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendation of providing MSP at 1.5 times the cost of production when it was in power. “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the government has ensured higher MSPs and record procurement benefiting farmers,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Gandhi attacked the Union Government over the India-US interim trade deal, alleging that India was “witnessing a betrayal” of its farmers.
“In the name of a US trade deal, we are witnessing a betrayal of Indian farmers. What does importing Dried Distillers’ Grains (DDG) mean? Does it mean that Indian cattle will be fed distillers’ grains made from GM American corn? Won’t this effectively make our milk products dependent on the US agricultural industry?” he questioned in a series of posts on X.
“What would its implications be on soy farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and across the country? How will they withstand another price shock? When you say ‘additional products’, what does that include? Does this indicate pressure to open pulses and other crops to US imports over time?” he asked.
The Gandhi scion also sought to know whether India will be pressured in the future to loosen its stance on GM crops, weaken procurement, or reduce MSPs and bonuses.
“This isn’t just about today. It’s about the future too — are we allowing another country to gain a long-term hold on India’s agriculture industry?” he added.
