New Delhi buzzes with controversy as Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi challenges the narrative around the India-US trade deal, calling it a one-sided affair dressed up as mutual benefit. Drawing from Trump’s X announcements, she reveals a deal shrouded in secrecy, with official details absent from public discourse.
Trump heralds a tariff cut from 50% to 18% on Indian exports—a silver lining for businesses. However, the flip side alarms Chaturvedi: India has zeroed tariffs and barriers for US goods, effectively surrendering market defenses. ‘It’s like inviting an invasion of American products into our economy,’ she stated starkly during her Tuesday interview.
Energy shifts compound the unease. Alleged agreements to shun Russian and Iranian oil, embrace Venezuelan alternatives, and boost US imports by 10%—plus PSU LPG pacts—signal deep alignment with US demands. References to the Anand Fanan bill further suggest intertwined political motives.
Chaturvedi’s spotlight on agriculture is poignant: opening markets means dismantling farmer protections, a ‘grave concern’ for rural India. While exporters cheer lower duties, she warns the broader imbalance tilts heavily toward America, as echoed in US lawmakers’ posts.
The discourse pivoted to a parliamentary flashpoint, where Rahul Gandhi’s citation of a censored ex-Army Chief’s book on Galwan sparked chaos. Chaturvedi decried the refusal to publish the book, the denial of Gandhi’s speech, and the procedural shutdown pushed by ministers Rajnath Singh, Kiren Rijiju, and Amit Shah. ‘Democracy thrives on free speech, even on inconvenient truths,’ she emphasized. Suppressing Galwan facts, she argued, harms the nation more than it protects it, calling for unfiltered disclosure to honor public trust.