Gandhinagar, February 15 Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi of spreading "lies" and misleading farmers regarding India's trade agreements with the US, UK, and the EU, asserting that the government has fully protected the country's agriculture and dairy sectors.
He dismissed the opposition party's allegations that trade agreements would harm Indian farmers as "laughable."
"When Rahul Gandhi, the son of Congress leader Shahzada Rahul Gandhi, stands in Parliament and talks about protecting farmers, I feel like laughing. The Congress has a long history of misleading the country, and now they are spreading lies about trade deals," Shah said.
Shah was addressing a gathering in Gandhinagar after launching India's first Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based Public Distribution System.
He asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government had ensured full protection of farmers' interests in every agreement.
"I want to assure the farmers, cattle rearers, and fishermen of this country that Narendra Modi has completely safeguarded your interests in every trade deal signed with the European Union, England, and America. There is no need to worry," he said.
Referring to the Congress's criticism that the agreements would destroy India's dairy sector, Shah said Rahul Gandhi is spreading a lie that PM Modi has finished India's dairy sector by signing these deals.
"We are the ones who expanded the dairy sector, not weakened it. Full protection has been given to the dairy sector in all the agreements," the Union minister said.
Shah challenged Gandhi to debate the issue publicly.
"Rahul Gandhi, choose any platform. Even the president of the BJP Yuva Morcha can come and debate with you on who has harmed farmers and who has worked for their welfare," he said.
Following a phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, both sides recently announced a reduction of US tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from 50 per cent.
Last month, India and the European Union (EU) concluded negotiations for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA), which will help boost two-way commerce and strengthen economic ties between the two sides, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal had said earlier.
