New Delhi, February 3: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has raised serious questions regarding the India-US trade deal. She stated that while this agreement may be historic for the United States, it does not appear to be a win-win situation for India. Chaturvedi emphasized that the full details of the deal have not been disclosed to the public, and the information available largely stems from President Donald Trump‘s posts on X (formerly Twitter).
In a recent interview, Chaturvedi noted that according to Trump’s posts, the US has reduced tariffs imposed on India from 50% to 18%, which could provide some relief to Indian exporters. However, she accused the US of receiving extensive concessions in return. She highlighted that Trump’s posts claim India has eliminated both tariff and non-tariff barriers in the US market, implying that American products would face no tariffs when entering India. If true, this would mean a complete opening of Indian markets.
Chaturvedi also pointed out that Trump has claimed India agreed not to purchase oil from Russia. Additionally, just a day before the budget announcement, Trump stated that India would not buy crude oil from Iran but would purchase from Venezuela. She mentioned that over the past year, India has increased its oil imports from the US by about 10%. Furthermore, public sector oil companies have signed LPG deals with the US. Chaturvedi reminded that the passing of the Anand Fanan peace bill was also seen as aligned with US interests.
She continued by stating that posts from Republican senators and other elected representatives indicate that India has consented to open its markets in agriculture, coal, and other sectors. Specifically, she expressed concern about the potential removal of protections for Indian farmers, which could lead to significant issues for them. While reduced tariffs may benefit exporters, the overall indications suggest that the US has been granted considerable access to Indian markets.
In response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi referencing an excerpt from a former army chief’s book in the Lok Sabha, Chaturvedi criticized the central government harshly. She deemed it unfortunate and against democratic values that the book was not allowed to be published. She questioned why the public is being denied the truth if the country considers itself a democracy.
Chaturvedi asserted that every author has the right to publish excerpts from their work. The excerpt referenced by Gandhi was published in a magazine, yet he was silenced in Parliament, leading to the suspension of proceedings. She named Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, and Home Minister Amit Shah, questioning why they objected so strongly that the opposition’s voice was suppressed.
She concluded by stating that democratic principles dictate that everyone should have the right to speak, regardless of whether their views are popular. The manner in which parliamentary rules were invoked to silence the opposition was shameful. Chaturvedi stressed the importance of informing the public about the true events in Galwan Valley, noting that initial claims of no intrusion have been contradicted by subsequent developments. She argued that preventing the publication of the former army chief’s book is not only shameful but also against national interests.
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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