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TradeDeal – Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the central government over the recently announced India–United States trade agreement, arguing that allowing American agricultural products easier access to Indian markets would severely undermine the interests of farmers who form the backbone of the country’s population.

He said the decision effectively ignores the concerns of nearly 70 per cent of Indians whose livelihoods depend directly or indirectly on agriculture. Yadav’s remarks came soon after India and the US reached an understanding under which the US agreed to lower its reciprocal tariff on Indian goods to 18 per cent, down from a combined rate of 50 per cent.

Criticism of Government’s Trade Approach

Questioning the intent behind the agreement, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies of prioritising foreign interests over domestic welfare. He claimed that such an approach was not new and had existed even before Independence, alleging that the mindset continued to shape current economic decisions.

Yadav said the government must clearly explain how opening domestic markets to foreign farm produce would benefit Indian farmers. He also challenged BJP leaders to disclose what he described as the economic cost of these decisions to the nation, suggesting that the country’s long-term financial stability was being compromised.

Impact on Consumers and Prices

According to Yadav, the repercussions of the trade deal would not be limited to farmers alone. He warned that lower middle-class and middle-class households would also feel the strain, as increased corporate participation in agriculture could fuel speculative trading and hoarding of essential commodities.

He argued that such developments would encourage profiteering in foodgrains and other agricultural products, leading to the emergence of a new class of intermediaries. This, he said, would inevitably push prices upward, making basic food items less affordable for ordinary citizens.

Allegations of Corporate Influence

The Samajwadi Party leader further alleged that closer ties between the government and large corporate entities would worsen the situation. He claimed that political funding from corporate donors would ultimately be recovered through higher consumer prices, placing additional financial pressure on households.

Yadav cautioned that these policies could gradually erode farmers’ incomes, leaving them with little choice but to sell their land to wealthy individuals or corporate groups. He described this trend as a deliberate strategy, asserting that land consolidation was the underlying objective of the ruling party.

Concerns Over Agricultural Legislation

Turning to proposed agricultural reforms, Yadav criticised the draft Seed Bill, calling it harmful to the interests of Indian farmers. He alleged that the legislation reflected what he termed an anti-farmer outlook and would increase farmers’ dependence on corporate-controlled seed markets.

He also accused the government of pursuing policies that favour private players across the agricultural value chain, including seeds, pesticides, storage infrastructure, crop insurance and trade. According to him, repeated changes to land acquisition laws and persistent issues such as fertiliser shortages had already added to farmers’ difficulties.

Call for Collective Resistance

Yadav urged farmers and rural communities to organise and oppose what he described as policies detrimental to agriculture. He said cultivators, already burdened by problems such as stray cattle damaging crops, would not accept further measures that threaten their livelihoods.

Reiterating his long-standing criticism, he stated that the BJP had consistently taken positions against farmers’ interests. He concluded by calling for a political shift, urging people to protect farmland, farming practices and farmers themselves by holding the government accountable.