The leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi , on Friday flagged what he called a “deepening crisis” in India’s textile sector due to the high U.S. tariffs and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene, saying the issue was threatening jobs and small businesses.
Sharing a video on X from his recent visit to a garment factory in Haryana, Mr. Gandhi said that “50% U.S. tariffs and uncertainty are badly hurting India’s textile exporters”. “Job losses, factory shut-downs and reduced orders are a reality of our “Dead Economy’,” he said.
‘Trade deal urgent’
The Congress leader stressed that India must urgently secure a trade agreement with the U.S. that priorities domestic interest. “It is important that India secures a U.S. trade deal that puts Indian businesses and India workers first,” he said.
He said India’s textiles industry, which he described as “the second largest employer in our economy”, was facing pressure on multiple fronts. “Our textiles are loved worldwide, and the craftsmanship of our tailors is truly unparalleled. Yet today, this industry is facing deep uncertainty and fear because of U.S. tariffs,” he said.
Workers faced the direct impact, he said. “Units are closing, procurement is decreasing, and there is widespread turmoil across the entire sector,” he said.
Source: The Hindu
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