India-US trade deal row: Karnataka CM urges PM Modi 'not to sell out farmers'
Bengaluru (PTI): Demanding answers from PM Narendra Modi over the impact of the India-US interim trade deal, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Sunday said the country’s farmers are "not bargaining chips but the lifeline of the nation".
He urged the prime minister not to "compromise India’s interests, trade away farmers for political gains, or bow to foreign pressure."
The CM’s remarks came in support of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, intensifying the opposition’s attack on the union government over the trade deal.
Siddaramaiah took to ‘X’ with a string of questions, claiming Indian farmers are being "betrayed".
"The concerns raised by Shri Rahul Gandhi about the impact of the India-US trade deal on our farmers, dairy sector, Minimum Support Price (MSP) system, and India’s long-term agricultural independence deserve a clear and honest response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the CM said.
He added that if the deal allows unchecked GM imports, weakens safeguards, or gradually opens more crops without protection, it would directly harm farmers across the country, including in Karnataka.
"PM Narendra Modi, do not sell India’s interests. Do not trade away our farmers for political compulsions. Do not surrender to foreign pressure. Our farmers are not bargaining chips; they are the lifeline of this nation," he wrote.
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Karnataka govt hints at increasing PHH ration card income limit
Bengaluru (PTI) The Karnataka government on Thursday indicated that it may hike the family income limit to obtain a Priority Households (PHH) ration card, considering rising costs.
Karnataka Health & Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao gave this indication in the Legislative Assembly, while replying to a question on behalf of Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa. He was responding to a question by senior BJP MLA C N Ashwath Narayan, during question hour.
"The current family annual income limit of Rs 1.20 lakh was fixed in 2017, it should certainly be accepted that the amount is less. From 2017, we are now in 2026. There is a need to revise this. It must be re-examined," said Rao, who previously served as Food and Civil Supplies Minister.
Noting that the Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission, headed by senior Congress MLA R V Deshpande, has recommended increasing the income limit to Rs 3 lakh, he said, "The department will look into this."
Raising the issue, Narayan stressed the need for higher income limits as the cost of living in Bengaluru had risen.
Replying to Narayan's statement that 50 per cent of the urban population should get PHH or Antyodaya cards, citing the Food Security Act, the minister said the act meant for the country as a whole, while it varies for states.
Karnataka has 1.24 crore households with PHH ration cards, Rao said. "The Centre has identified 1.09 crore eligible families in Karnataka. But the state has exceeded this by 15.8 lakh families. In some rural areas, 95 per cent of the population is covered."
He also highlighted cases where ineligible people have obtained the card.
"There is demand for this card as it is considered the basis for obtaining other benefits like medical and other things. They don't want it for obtaining ration, but for other benefits," he said.
