Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav unleashed a barrage of questions on the Centre during Tuesday’s Lok Sabha session discussing the Union Budget. At the heart of his attack was the freshly inked interim trade pact with the US, which he dismissed as a ‘diluted compromise’ unworthy of the hype.
Details emerging from Washington suggest India has slashed duties on select imports to 18 percent and waived tariffs entirely on others, prompting Trump to boast of a breakthrough. Yet, New Delhi’s reticence has left room for opposition skepticism.
‘What came first—the budget or this deal?’ Yadav demanded, casting doubt on the sequencing of fiscal planning and trade negotiations. He warned that hasty FTAs could jeopardize the rupee and local industries, especially after an 11-month delay that frustrated Indian exporters.
Yadav challenged the BJP’s free trade ambitions: ‘They want deals everywhere, but what will be the real fallout?’ He spotlighted the agreement’s lopsided nature, questioning how it aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat slogans. ‘A $500 million one-way street—does zero equal 18 now?’
Extending his critique to the budget, Yadav decried its failure to address the needs of backward classes, Dalits, and tribals. This comes as India navigates post-pandemic recovery, making trade policy a flashpoint in parliamentary discourse.
With businesses awaiting clarity, Yadav’s pointed remarks signal escalating political battles over economic direction, potentially reshaping India’s global trade stance.