Bhagwant Mann Calls India–US Trade Deal More Dangerous Than Farm Laws

The Punjab Legislative Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the proposed India–United States trade agreement during the ongoing budget session. Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party were absent from the House, while other political parties, except the opposition Indian National Congress, supported the motion. With this move, Punjab has become the first non-BJP governed state in the country to pass a resolution opposing the proposed agreement. Addressing the House, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann described the proposed deal as extremely harmful for Punjab. He urged the central government to keep the agricultural sector outside the scope of the agreement. Mann also criticized the BJP-led central government over the issue and said the proposed trade pact could be even more damaging for agriculture than the three farm laws that were repealed earlier. The resolution was presented in the Assembly by Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian and received support from both ruling and opposition members during the debate. Concluding the discussion, Mann recalled that Punjab had led the farmers’ movement in Delhi against the three farm laws, which eventually forced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw them. During the debate, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the proposed trade agreement could undermine food and seed sovereignty. Legislator Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal alleged that the BJP government had effectively put the country at the mercy of the United States. Meanwhile, MLA Gurpreet Bananwali expressed concern that imported seeds from the US could harm indigenous seed varieties and negatively impact Punjab’s food processing industry. Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar also warned that the proposed deal could weaken Punjab’s agricultural economy. MLA Pargat Singh pointed out the significant differences between Indian and American agricultural systems and raised the issue of reducing cotton duty by 11 percent. Shiromani Akali Dal legislator Manpreet Singh Iyali said the agreement could severely affect both agriculture and the dairy sector. Several other MLAs, including Rana Gurjit Singh, Dinesh Chadha, Sherry Kalsi, Narinderpal Singh Sawna, and Jagdeep Singh Goldy Kamboj, also participated in the debate. Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa called for unity in opposing the proposed trade agreement. He warned that it could cause serious damage to Indian agriculture, particularly affecting farmers in Punjab and Haryana. Bajwa also highlighted that cotton prices had already fallen by ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 and cautioned that wheat prices could face similar pressure in the future. Resolution Passed Against Sukhpal Khaira Over Social Media Post In a separate development during the Assembly proceedings, a resolution condemning Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira was passed following a controversial social media post related to the government’s “Maavan Dhiyan Satikar Yojana.” During Zero Hour, the post sparked strong protests from ruling party women legislators. MLA Sarvjit Kaur Manuke moved a condemnation motion, stating that Khaira’s remarks were insulting to women and Dalits and that he should issue a public apology as well as apologize in the Assembly. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said legislators must maintain dignity in their language and urged Khaira to offer an unconditional apology. After the debate, the Assembly passed the condemnation resolution against him. Meanwhile, the Punjab State Women Commission, chaired by Raj Lali Gill, took suo motu notice of the controversy and sought a report from the authorities. The commission has summoned Khaira and also asked that Amrinder Singh Raja Warring appear in connection with the matter.