New Delhi: With AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s Kisan Mahapanchayat in Chotila postponed due to heavy rains, he addressed a press conference in Ahmedabad, calling out the Modi government for betraying farmers. He said the Centre has scrapped the 11% import duty on American cotton, making it ₹15–20 per kg cheaper than Indian cotton. As a result, Indian farmers will be forced to sell their crop for less than ₹900 per 20 kgs, pushing them towards suicide.

The AAP Chief charged that PM Modi is sacrificing India’s farmers only to save Adani and please Trump, while demanding the immediate restoration of the 11% duty, MSP of ₹2100 per 20 kg for cotton, and subsidies on seeds and fertilisers.

11 per cent duty made US cotton costlier, helping Indian farmers sell their crop easily: Arvind Kejriwal

Addressing a press conference, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal explained the situation of cotton farmers, stating, “Our farmers have already sown cotton in June-July. For sowing cotton, they have taken loans for seeds, fertilisers and labour. Their crop will be ready by October-November. Farmers believe that when they take their crop to the mandi in October-November, they will get a good price. But they don’t know how the Modi government at the Centre has betrayed them.”

He revealed that until now, cotton coming from American farmers had an 11% import duty. Because of this duty, American cotton was costlier than Indian cotton. That is why cotton grown by our farmers sold easily in the mandis, while imported cotton from the US did not sell.

On the removal of duty, Arvind Kejriwal said, “From 19 August, the Modi government has removed the 11% import duty on cotton coming from the US. Now, American cotton will be cheaper by ₹15 to 20 per kilo compared to Indian cotton. This means American cotton will........

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