Farmers’ interests protected in India-US trade deal: Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president Sunil Jakhar on Sunday described the India-US trade agreement as being in the interest of both India and Punjab. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for safeguarding farmers’ interests in the deal. He said the agreement would boost Punjab’s industrial development and create new employment opportunities for the youth.

Addressing a press conference here today, he said that the Government of India, after careful deliberation, successfully concluded an agreement with the world’s largest economy that would promote industrial growth in the country and in Punjab, without causing any adverse impact on the nation’s farmers, especially those in Punjab. He stated that all crops produced in Punjab have been kept out of the agreement.

Jakhar said that Modi and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal finalised the agreement after prolonged discussions, with the government’s primary focus being the protection of farmers’ interests. He clarified that there would be no import from the United States of crops such as wheat, rice, maize or any other produce grown in Punjab. Similarly, full protection has been ensured for the dairy sector under this agreement.

The BJP president said that leaders of AAP and Congress should have risen above party politics and congratulated the government for this agreement. However, they have failed to play the role of a constructive Opposition. He added that the silence of the AAP government is proof that the agreement is beneficial.

On another issue, he strongly condemned the Punjab Government’s suspension of two senior IAS officers, calling it highly objectionable. He stated that IAS officers form the “steel frame” of democracy. He alleged that those who themselves have gone to jail in Delhi over corruption cases now want to promote corruption in Punjab, but these officers refused to support any such wrongdoing. He urged the Home Minister or the Administrative Tribunal to intervene in the matter to prevent pressure being exerted on officers to carry out illegal acts. He said the BJP condemns this action of the AAP government.