Tarigami criticizes India-US trade deal, warns of heavy blow to IIOJK economy
Jammu: Kashmiri lawmaker and CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has criticized the recent India-US trade deal, warning it would severely harm India’s agricultural sector and deal a heavy blow to the economy of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
According to Kashmir Media Service, participating in the discussion on the Budget in the IIOJK Assembly, Tarigami, also leader of the Apple Farmers Federation of India, said the deal would devastate regional economies.
“We have been facing problems in apple cultivation due to lack of marketing facilities and climatic challenges,” Tarigami said. “Farmers are already in distress, and this agreement will be a huge setback for apple and tree nut growers.”
“In a state like Jammu and Kashmir, where there are no other economic avenues such as industry, the only source of income was cultivation of apples and dry fruits,” Tarigami added. “The Union government does not care about farmers here and is working for their masters in the United States.”
He said the agreement compromised India’s sovereignty by favouring American interests while exposing Indian farmers — especially apple, peanut, and soyabean growers — to unfair competition without adequate safeguards.
“Under this deal, all American goods, including apples, peanuts (soyabean) and other agricultural products, will enter India at zero tariff, while Indian goods will continue to face 18 per cent tariff in the US. It is clear who stands to gain and who stands to lose. This trade deal is bound to have a severe adverse impact on our agricultural sector,” he said. KMS—21S
