Amit Shah, Union Home and Cooperation Minister. Photo Courtesy: Nagara Gopal
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Sunday strongly defended India’s recently concluded free trade agreements (FTAs) with the United Kingdom and the European Union as well as the trade deal with the United States, saying the interests of Indian farmers and the dairy sector have been “fully protected”.
Addressing a gathering in Gandhinagar, Shah accused senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of misleading farmers on the implications of the trade agreement.
Shah said, “I want to tell the farmers of this country that Rahul Gandhi is lying and misleading the farmers. The FTA with Britain and the EU and the trade agreement with the US have completely protected the farmers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured this. No one needs to be worried.”
He rejected allegations that the trade deal with the US would hurt India’s dairy industry. Shah said, “Rahul Gandhiji, why are you spreading the lie that Modiji has destroyed the dairy industry by making a trade agreement with America? We are the ones paving the way for dairy. All three agreements completely protect the dairy industry.”
Shah cast the agreements as export opportunities rather than import threats, arguing that the deals would expand global access for Indian agricultural and fisheries products.
“In fact, these deals have opened the doors for our agricultural products and fish products to reach global markets,” he said.
Published on February 15, 2026
