‘Modi Selling the Country’: Punjab CM Mann attacks Centre over Indo-US trade deal
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, March 10, 2026: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the proposed India–US trade arrangement could seriously harm Punjab’s agriculture and place farmers at a major disadvantage.
Speaking to reporters after addressing the Punjab Legislative Assembly, Mann claimed that the trade understanding being finalised between India and the United States could allow large-scale imports of American agricultural products, particularly soy meal used in animal and poultry feed.
According to the Chief Minister, such imports would create an uneven playing field for farmers in Punjab, who operate on much smaller landholdings compared to their counterparts in the United States.
“Today in the Punjab Assembly we discussed the Indo–US treaty — a secret agreement that is being finalised — which will have a dangerous impact on Punjab’s agriculture,” Mann said.
He warned that the proposed arrangement would enable the import of soy meal from the United States for livestock and poultry feed, making it difficult for local farmers to compete with American agricultural production.
Highlighting the stark difference in farm sizes between the two countries, Mann questioned how Indian farmers could compete with industrial-scale farming in the US.
“In America, the average farm size is around 500 acres, while in Punjab it is only about 2.5 acres. How can our farmers compete with such large-scale production?” he asked.
The Chief Minister also expressed concern that the trade deal could undermine Punjab’s efforts to diversify crops.
Punjab has been encouraging farmers to shift away from the traditional wheat-paddy cycle toward crops such as maize and cotton in order to address environmental concerns and reduce pressure on groundwater resources.
However, Mann warned that the proposed agreement could weaken these efforts.
“We are trying to move towards crop diversification, but this treaty will kill those efforts. Our maize, cotton and Narma will be the worst affected,” he said.
Mann Accuses Centre of Ignoring Farmers
Launching a broader political attack, Mann accused the Union government of ignoring the interests of farmers while negotiating international trade agreements.
He argued that the arrangement could also create an imbalance in the textile sector by favouring imported raw materials.
“The structure of this arrangement is such that India will import their cotton, manufacture garments, and sell them back to America without tariffs. But if garments are made from our own local cotton, tariffs will be imposed. How is this fair?” Mann asked.
The Chief Minister said such policies would make it difficult for domestic producers to survive in global markets.
‘Vishwa Guru’ Promise Questioned
Taking a direct swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mann said the country had been promised global leadership but was instead becoming dependent on other nations.
“We were told that India would become a ‘Vishwa Guru’. But today we are becoming a ‘Vishwa Shishya’, even a ‘Vishwa Chela’. Modi ji is selling out the country,” Mann alleged.
Drawing a historical parallel, Mann compared the situation to the arrival of the East India Company in India during the colonial era.
“They came here for trade and eventually ruled the country for 200 years. Sometimes it feels like history is repeating itself,” he said.
Assembly Passes Resolution
Mann said the Punjab Legislative Assembly had passed a resolution condemning the proposed trade arrangement, asserting that Punjab, being an agrarian state, cannot afford policies that undermine its farming economy.
“This is a grave injustice. Punjab is an agricultural state, and as its Chief Minister it is my responsibility to protect our farmers. I will raise my voice against this on every platform,” he added.
About the India–US Trade Arrangement
The proposed India–US interim trade arrangement aims to reduce tariff barriers and expand bilateral trade while balancing India’s domestic agricultural sensitivities with American demands for greater market access.
Under the understanding, the United States has agreed to reduce reciprocal tariffs on certain Indian goods from levels as high as 50 percent to about 18 percent, potentially benefiting Indian exports such as textiles, leather, footwear and pharmaceuticals.
India has also expressed an intent to purchase around $500 billion worth of American energy, aircraft, technology and coking coal over the next five years.
The United States, on the other hand, has agreed to grant duty-free access to several Indian agricultural products including spices, tea, coffee, mangoes, grapes and cashews — exports that together were valued at about $4.45 billion in 2024-25.
However, the proposed arrangement has triggered political debate in Punjab, where leaders fear that increased imports of certain agricultural commodities could affect local farmers and disrupt the state’s crop diversification plans.