India-US Deal New Flashpoint: Will Congress’s ‘Bad For Farmers’ Pitch Against BJP Backfire?

Last Updated:February 06, 2026, 12:55 IST

India-US trade deal: The BJP-led government has maintained that, contrary to Congress's claims, the bulk of what Indian farmers grow will not be impacted at all

For days, there were loud questions, sharp concerns and rising anxiety — will Indian farmers pay the price for the India–United States (US) trade deal? Now, top government sources are giving a clear, unambiguous answer: No.

Will the Congress lose yet another narrative battle?

Food security protected

India’s food security remains fully protected. Staples that form the backbone of Indian agriculture — rice, wheat, soyabean, corn, dairy products and sugar — are completely outside the trade deal.

These are non-negotiables, and sources say they were never on the table.

Officials are stressing one key point again and again: the bulk of what Indian farmers grow will not be impacted at all. So, what about agricultural imports from the United States? Sources clarify these will be limited, selective and niche — items that are not produced at scale in India and are not mass-consumption products.

There will be no flood of cheap foreign food entering Indian markets.

What may feature instead are premium dry fruits — American almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts and pistachios. In short, this is about specialty imports, not staples. No disruption. No dumping. No threat to livelihoods.

What the Opposition is saying

This is quite opposite to what the opposition, and specifically, the Congress has been saying. Congress says the Modi government is selling out Indian farmer interests to the U.S. — this is without even knowing the fine print of the deal.

Flash back to the Indo-US nuclear deal during the Manmohan Singh regime — when the BJP led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the opposition gave their support to the government as BJP knew the nuclear deal was in India’s national interest.

But the same far-sightedness or pragmatism seems to be lost in today’s bitter politics where the opposition is not ready to believe the government.

Piyush Goyal’s clarification

Brooke Rollins, US secretary for agriculture in a post wrote: “Thank you @POTUS for ONCE AGAIN delivering for our American farmers. New US-India deal will export more American farm products to India’s massive market, lifting prices, and pumping cash into rural America. In 2024, America’s agricultural trade deficit with India was $1.3 billion. India’s growing population is an important market for American agricultural products and today’s deal will go a long way to reducing this deficit."

Piyush Goyal however clarified: “Stronger economic cooperation under the #IndiaUSTradeDeal will significantly benefit businesses in both nations. With tariff reductions, India will gain enhanced market access and improved export competitiveness, unlocking new growth avenues for our industries."

The timeline

Government sources say the trade deal with the U.S. could be formally signed as early as March. Before that, within the next four to five days, India and the US are expected to issue a joint statement, outlining the broad contours and signalling clear forward movement.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has come out strongly to reassure farmers. His message is firm: India’s agricultural interests are fully safeguarded.

Addressing the media in Delhi, he said India’s grains, fruits, millets, major crops and dairy sector face no threat whatsoever.

Small farmers, large farmers — everyone’s interests, he said, are protected. There will be no sudden or disruptive entry of foreign products into Indian markets.

He also addressed confusion triggered by a recent tweet from the US Treasury Secretary claiming increased access for American farm products. Shivraj Singh Chouhan pointed out that Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has already clarified the facts in Parliament — India has not opened its markets in any way that pressures domestic farmers.

So, here’s the bottom line. India held its nerve. Farmers’ interests stayed non-negotiable.

Staples stayed protected. And diplomacy delivered results.

This is not a deal that compromises food security — it’s one that balances trade, trust and national interest.

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