‘We should impose 100% tariff on America’: Kejriwal targets PM Modi over US tariffs; calls ‘Trump a coward’ | India News

Arvind Kejriwal (File photograph)

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party chief and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday launched a sharp assault on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of “betraying farmers” after the federal government eliminated an 11% import obligation on American cotton. Linking the choice to mounting commerce tensions with the United States, Kejriwal additionally known as US President Donald Trump “a coward” for imposing steep tariffs on Indian items.Earlier as we speak, the centre prolonged duty-free import of cotton by three extra months until December 31 to help textile exporters going through steep 50% tariffs within the US.“PM Modi has taken some decisions behind our backs which are a huge betrayal of the farmers of the entire country,” Kejriwal stated at a press convention in Delhi. “Recently, under the pressure of Trump and America, it has been decided that the cotton that comes to India from America, till now, there was an 11 per cent duty on it. In the last few days, the Modi government has decided that the 11 per cent duty has been removed. Now, no duty will be imposed on the cotton coming from America from 19 August to 30 September, for 40 days.”

The AAP chief warned that American cotton would now be round Rs 15–20 cheaper per kilo than Indian produce, leaving home farmers at a drawback. “In the past few days, PM Modi has taken some decisions that are very harmful for the farmers of our country and ninety percent of farmers are not even aware. Once these decisions are implemented, they will be left with no option but to commit suicide,” he claimed.Kejriwal additionally instantly focused Trump, calling him weak within the face of nations that resisted Washington’s stress. “Trump is a coward. Trump has bowed before countries which have stood firmly against him. I don’t know what compulsions PM Modi has that he is not saying anything,” he stated.The remarks come after Washington introduced a 50% tariff on Indian items, citing India’s continued purchases of discounted Russian oil. White House commerce adviser Peter Navarro has described the Ukraine struggle as “Modi’s war” and argued that India’s oil imports are serving to Moscow fund its offensive. New Delhi has dismissed the extra tariffs as “unjustified and unreasonable”, insisting it can take needed measures to safeguard nationwide pursuits.Kejriwal demanded that India reply with even harder commerce measures. “If Trump has imposed 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, we should have imposed 100 per cent tariff on American goods. Are we a weak nation? This is a country of 140 crore people. We have a huge market. No country can afford to offend India,” he stated, including that the entire nation would help larger tariffs on US imports.