Trade deal with US will hurt Indian farmers; govt wants to destroy agri sector: Kharge
New Delhi (PTI): The India-US trade deal will hurt the interests of Indian farmers, and the government wants to destroy the country's agriculture sector, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge alleged on Wednesday.
Participating in the discussion on Motion of Thanks to the President's address in the Upper House, the Congress party president also said that in the last 11 years, the government has "bulldozed" social justice and equality, and parliamentary democracy.
Hitting out at the manner in which the India-US trade deal was announced, Kharge said it is an insult to the Indian Parliament that parliamentarians got to know about the deal when it was in session from US President Donald Trump and not the government.
Quoting US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, he said, "The new US-India deal will export farm products to India's massive markets, lifting prices and pumping cash into rural America".
"Meaning American farmers will benefit," Kharge said.
"Tell us, are you (government) working for the welfare of farmers, or are you against the farmers?"
Asserting that the deal will hurt the interests of Indian farmers, he alleged that the government wants to "destroy" the Indian agriculture sector.
American imports will come at zero tariff, and what India exports there will be at 18 per cent, he lamented.
"The fact that parliamentarians came to know about the India-US trade deal from President Trump and not the government is an insult to Parliament," he said, adding that Trump is telling what India should do and how to run it from the US.
Indian farmers will be destroyed by this deal, he added.
On Monday, Trump, in a social media post, announced that India and the US agreed to a trade deal under which Washington would bring down the reciprocal tariff on Indian goods to 18 per cent from the current 50 per cent, after a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In his speech, Kharge said the President's address was silent on many important matters and raised issues of social justice, social harmony, attack on constitutional democracy, economy, difficulties faced by farmers and workers and the government's shortcomings in its foreign policy.
After the Independence, two of the most important goals before the nation were setting up a system to provide social justice and equality, and giving the country a parliamentary democracy, but "in 11 years you have bulldozed both", he said.
In the last few years, the government has weakened the four pillars of the constitution -- justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, Kharge said.
He further said that in the last 11 years, the Modi government has weakened the fabric of social justice.
While the President's address mentioned women's reservation, in reality, women have only remained vote banks for the BJP, Kharge claimed, adding that if the Prime Minister was really concerned about women's reservation, then the Women's Reservation Act would have been implemented without any conditions.
He also alleged that under the NDA rule, atrocities against minorities, tribals and women have increased. Many schemes implemented by the earlier Congress government to uplift scheduled tribes and scheduled tribes have been completed by the current government, and fund allocations have been cut.
Kharge also lashed out at the government for "uprooting and throwing away" legislations, including MNREGA, which were aimed to provide citizens basic rights and for the betterment of citizens.
On social harmony, he said any discussion on the matter will be incomplete without mentioning Manipur, where at least 200 people have died, and 70,000 have been displaced.
"You have made Manipur a militarised zone," Kharge said, adding that it took two years for the Prime Minister to visit the troubled state.
Kharge also raised concern over rising violence against minorities and attacks on Churches in several states, while accusing the BJP spokesperson of spewing venom and spreading hatred between different communities.
"Do you want to build Viksit Bharat on the foundation of hatred and division?" he asked, adding that if the government continued with its policy, it would be responsible for breaking up the nation.
He also alleged the ruling dispensation of not entertaining demands from the opposition for discussion on various issues in Parliament by rejecting short-notice questions and half-hour discussions.
Alleging that the Prime Minister always stays away from replying to questions in Parliament, Kharge said several questions raised by Opposition members were rejected on flimsy grounds.
He accused the government of wanting to impose new laws and pass legislation without discussion or proper scrutiny in Parliament, while also alleging that in non-NDA-ruled states, Raj Bhavan has become offices of the BJP and RSS, and Governors were acting as agents of the Centre.
Highlighting the issue of inequality, citing the World Inequality Report, Kharge said 40 per cent of India's total wealth is held by 1 per cent of the population and asked what steps have been taken by the government to address the issue.
He also raised the issue of rising unemployment among youths despite large-scale vacancies in government posts and PSUs across the country, while flagging concern over heightened drug seizures, especially from ports in Gujarat.
Kharge also hit out at the government over the new labour codes, saying in order to benefit its "corporate friends", the government has finished the laws that were framed before and after Independence, which "guaranteed the future of workers".
Taking a dig at the government's 'Achche Din' slogan, he said, due to the smoke of pollution, one can't see 'Achche Din' and 11 years of failed strategy meant people are now forced to buy air purifiers.
"Those who talk about ease of doing business can't give ease of breathing...," Kharge lamented.
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Karnataka: GBA city corporation polls likely between June 14 and 24
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka State Election Commissioner G S Sangreshi on Friday said elections to the five city corporations under the GBA will be held anytime between June 14 and June 24.
He said the exact date for the polls will be announced after a week, asserting that the power to postpone the elections, as requested by GBA authorities, lies with the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court had directed the Karnataka government and the State Election Commission to conduct Bengaluru local body elections by June 30.
On Friday, the SEC held a consultation meeting with the GBA Chief Commissioner and commissioners of the five city corporations regarding the election schedule, as per the provisions of the GBA Act.
“During the meeting, I informed GBA officials that only the election date has to be fixed, as all other measures and formalities for conducting the polls have already been completed,” Sangreshi said.
“They requested the Commission to consider factors such as rains, exams, census work, SIR, and manpower shortages while fixing the date and sought additional time,” he added.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, “I told them this meeting was not for seeking time. Elections to the five corporations under the GBA must be held before June 30, as directed by the Supreme Court, and a compliance report must be submitted to the court. I do not have the power to postpone the elections as requested.”
The Supreme Court has already given a “final opportunity,” and both the SEC and the government must comply with its directions, the State Election Commissioner said.
He asked GBA officials to suggest suitable dates between June 14 and June 24.
“While stating that they are ready for elections, the officials highlighted operational challenges, including manpower shortages. However, I have informed them that the elections will have to be held between June 14 and June 24. After a week, I will announce the final date,” he said.
Reiterating that he does not have the power to postpone the elections, Sangreshi said the authority rests with the Supreme Court, and elections must be conducted as scheduled.
“We have consulted the GBA as per the rules. It is up to them to suggest a date within the given window. If they need more time, they must approach the court. Our responsibility is to fix the date and complete the polls before June 30,” he said.
The matter regarding manpower and other concerns raised by GBA officials is already before the Supreme Court, and the State Election Commission has also filed a petition in this regard. The case is yet to be heard.
“Since the matter has not come up for hearing, the earlier order remains binding. Therefore, preparations are underway,” he added.
The tenure of the previous elected body under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) ended on September 10, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator has been managing its day-to-day affairs.
Bengaluru was divided into five municipal corporations—Central, East, West, North, and South—under the Greater Bengaluru Authority in September 2025, replacing the BBMP.
Sangreshi had earlier said that elections to the five corporations would be conducted using ballot papers instead of Electronic Voting Machines.
This follows the Congress government’s decision last September to recommend the use of ballot papers in all future panchayat and urban local body elections, citing concerns over declining public confidence in EVMs.
The state government subsequently enacted the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Act, 2026, paving the way for the use of ballot papers in local body elections.
