Farmers to pay the price for India-US trade deal, warns Harsimrat Kaur Badal
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, February 9, 2026 : Former Union Cabinet Minister and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday strongly criticised the India–US trade deal, alleging that the country is being misled on its implications, particularly for the agricultural sector.
Badal warned that allowing heavily subsidised agricultural products such as US corn, soyabean and jowar into India under the pretext of animal feed, along with imports of fresh fruits like apples and oranges, would spell disaster for Indian farmers. She said such measures would severely undermine domestic agriculture and expose farmers to unfair international competition.
Terming the situation “extremely unfortunate,” the Shiromani Akali Dal leader also expressed concern over the opposition not being permitted to raise the issue in Parliament. She said suppressing debate on a matter that directly impacts farmers and the national economy was unprecedented.
“This kind of situation has never occurred in the last eighteen years. Half of the Members of Parliament have been elected by the people, and their voices cannot be gagged in this manner,” Badal said.
Questioning the very purpose of parliamentary proceedings under such circumstances, she remarked that if elected representatives are not allowed to speak, “there is no sense in holding a presidential address.”
Badal reiterated that any trade agreement must safeguard the interests of Indian farmers and be subjected to transparent and comprehensive parliamentary discussion.