Arvind Kejriwal launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government on Sunday, urging the Prime Minister to take a strong retaliatory stance against the United States’ decision to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods. Addressing a press conference, the Aam Aadmi Party convener demanded that India respond with a 75 per cent tariff on American imports, arguing that such a move would demonstrate national resolve and force US President Donald Trump to reconsider his aggressive trade policies. Kejriwal claimed that the entire nation was prepared to stand behind Modi if he took a firm stand, insisting that the time had come to match Washington’s actions with greater force.
The Delhi Chief Minister did not limit his criticism to tariffs alone. He accused the Modi government of betraying Indian farmers by exempting an 11 per cent duty on US cotton imports until December 2025, a policy he warned would devastate local producers while enriching American farmers. Kejriwal argued that the influx of cheaper US cotton would crash domestic prices, leaving Indian farmers—especially those in Gujarat—unable to even recover ₹900 for their produce in local markets. He warned of widespread distress, suggesting that indebted farmers, unable to repay loans taken for seeds, fertilisers, and labour, could be driven to suicide.
Kejriwal painted the Centre’s trade policy as a capitulation to American pressure, alleging that Modi had “bowed down” before Trump instead of defending Indian interests. He went so far as to call Trump “a coward, a timid person,” insisting that a robust counter-tariff policy would have forced Washington to retreat. “If Trump can impose 50 per cent, why can’t Modi impose 100 per cent on cotton?” he asked, underscoring his belief that only bold retaliation would safeguard India’s farmers and industries.
Beyond tariffs, Kejriwal outlined a broader set of demands, including the immediate re-imposition of the 11 per cent duty on US cotton imports, the establishment of a fair Minimum Support Price (MSP) system for cotton, and direct financial aid for struggling farmers. He further highlighted the ripple effects of the US tariffs, claiming that not only agriculture but also India’s diamond industry had suffered losses, leaving workers in distress.
While the central government has defended the cotton duty exemption as a measure to support India’s small and medium enterprises by enhancing their export competitiveness, Kejriwal dismissed this reasoning as a façade. He accused the Modi administration of effectively “forcing farmers to commit suicide” under American pressure, framing the policy as a betrayal of rural India.
