Cotton Crisis Brews as Kejriwal Accuses Modi of Betraying Farmers
In a press conference today, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal leveled serious allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of sacrificing the interests of Indian farmers under foreign pressure.
At the center of the controversy is the Centre’s recent decision to remove the 11% import duty on American cotton, a move Kejriwal says was made quietly and under pressure from the United States. The duty waiver is set to remain in effect from August 19 to September 30, a narrow window that the AAP leader called “surgical sabotage” against India’s cotton growers.
“Most farmers don’t even know this has happened,” Kejriwal said. “But when they bring their cotton to market in October, the damage will be done. There will be no buyers.”
According to Kejriwal, U.S. cotton, already priced ₹15–20 per kilo cheaper than domestic produce, will flood Indian mills in the next few weeks. With domestic cotton rendered uncompetitive, the textile industry may not wait for India’s harvest.
He warned that the impact would be devastating across cotton-growing regions like Gujarat, Vidarbha, Telangana, and Punjab, where farmer suicides are already alarmingly high. In Maharashtra alone, 767 farmers took their own lives in the first three months of 2025.
“Instead of helping them, Modi has stabbed them in the back,” Kejriwal said bluntly.
The AAP chief also criticized India’s broader trade posture, highlighting the Modi government’s failure to retaliate against former U.S. President Donald Trump’s 50% tariff hike on Indian exports. “Other countries stood up, Europe, China, even Canada. We bowed,” he said.
He further alleged that the government’s inaction might be tied to “protecting private interests,” alluding to business tycoon Gautam Adani’s legal issues in the U.S. “If this decision is being made to shield one man’s empire, it’s not just a betrayal of farmers-it’s a betrayal of the country,” Kejriwal said.
Kejriwal demanded an immediate rollback of the duty waiver, calling for not just reinstatement but a possible increase in tariffs on U.S. cotton. “We are not a weak country. We are a market of 1.4 billion people. If we had shown spine, America would’ve stepped back.”
The AAP leader also announced a mass rally on September 7 in Chotila, Surendranagar – a major cotton hub in Gujarat – to protest the move. He appealed to all political parties and farmer unions to join forces, framing the issue as one that transcends politics.
“Farmers are not asking for favors. They are asking for fairness,” he said. “If this government truly stands with them, it will prove it with action, not slogans.”
As the ruling BJP remained silent on the issue at press time, Kejriwal’s attack has reignited debate over India’s trade policy, farmer welfare, and the government’s foreign priorities. With the cotton harvest approaching and tempers flaring, the coming weeks may prove pivotal, for farmers, for policymakers, and for the credibility of a government that claims to be farmer-first.
