The Congress today strongly opposed the government of India’s reported decision to reduce the duty on Washington Apple, imported from the United States to 15 percent from 70 percent.
The party sought its immediate withdrawal, saying it will destroy the economy of the apple growing states, particularly Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, which has already suffered a grave natural calamity causing damage and devastation to the tune of about Rs 10,000 crores.
Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here today, the Congress spokesperson and Chairperson Social Media and Digital Platforms, Ms Supriya Shrinate alleged that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reportedly committed this gift to the American farmers after the G20 meeting.
She questioned Mr Narendra Modi and reminded him that when he was not the Prime Minister of the country, he had said that he would impose 100 percent duty on American apples to save Himachal apple growers. But now, she pointed out, in a complete turnaround he has reduced the duty to 15 percent, which will spell doom for the economy of the apple growing states.
Ms Shrinate said, this could not have come at a worse time for Himachal Pradesh, which is fighting for survival after widespread destruction and devastation due to natural calamity. She said, 14 percent of HP GDP comes from apple sales and now it will be seriously hit.
Similarly, she added, in Jammu and Kashmir, where the economy had started moving ahead for the first time after 2019 when there was a lockdown like situation, the reduction in import duty on apples, as well as walnuts and almonds will come as a great blow. She asked whether Mr Modi was seeking revenge on these two states.
The Congress spokesperson disclosed that in America the apples are grown by big corporations, which get huge subsidies from the government there, while in India apples are grown by small farmers only. She said, there was no point in giving such a gift to the US farmers at the cost of our own farmers.
She said, there were so many contradictions in what Mr Modi used to say and claim while being the Chief Minister of Gujarat and what he is doing now as the Prime Minister of the country. She asked, what happened to the slogan of “vocal for local”?
Taking a dig at the Prime Minister for trying to please the Americans, Ms Shrinate asked, why does he (the PM) need to “buy his way to state dinners” by offering concessions? She said, last time during his state visit to the US, he had promised to bring down the duty to 50 percent and now he had gone far beyond by bringing it down to 15 percent only.
To a question on a DMK leader’s remarks on Sanatan Dharam, she said, the Congress does not need any certificate from the BJP on three things; which include nationalism, Sanatan Dharam and contribution to the freedom struggle of India. She reiterated that the Congress believed in Sarva Dharma Sambhava.
