New Delhi, Feb 10 (NationPress) The chief of the Samajwadi Party and Lok Sabha member, Akhilesh Yadav, sharply criticized the Central government on Tuesday regarding the newly announced interim trade agreement between India and the US. He raised questions about the sequence of events, specifically inquiring whether the Union Budget was drafted prior to the deal's finalization or the other way around.

This statement followed the recent interim trade arrangement made between India and the US. US President Donald Trump has asserted that tariffs on Indian imports have been lowered to 18 percent, while India consented to apply zero percent tariffs on select US products. Nevertheless, the BJP-led Central government has not yet provided any comprehensive official clarification regarding these claims.

While participating in the discourse on the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha, Yadav raised alarms about the government's trade strategies and the wider ramifications of free trade agreements.

"The BJP asserts that India now possesses Free Trade Agreements with various nations. However, I wish to inquire from the BJP, with which countries will such FTAs not be feasible? You (BJP) may be eager to sign FTAs with numerous countries," he stated.

In his critique of the agreement with the US, Yadav remarked, "After numerous FTAs, what we have reached is a dheel (compromise), not a proper deal with America. Following this, where will our Rupee stand? Who knows? If this was the agreement to be made, then why was there an 11-month delay? Our businessmen and industrialists had to endure a long wait."

He further questioned the timing of the economic decisions, asking, "When it comes to the budget, what was prioritized -- the deal or the Budget?"

Yadav also expressed concern over the government's focus on self-reliance and local production in the context of the trade arrangement.

"Were terms like Aatmanirbharta and Swadeshi erased from the vocabulary when this agreement was executed? Or were they placed in the antonyms section?... $500 million one-sided trade... where will our Aatmanirbharta and Swadeshi slogans lead? The public is questioning the BJP that since the deal is never one-sided, is 0 greater than 18? The BJP equates 18 with 0," he commented.

The chief of the Samajwadi Party further condemned the Union Budget, claiming that it overlooked the needs of marginalized groups.

He asserted that there was "nothing in this Budget for the PDA -- poor, Dalit, and Adivasis," and accused the government of neglecting these segments of society.

Yadav alleged that the BJP was meddling with reservation policies, stating, "Until our poor, minorities, and Dalits achieve success, your aspirations for a Viksit Bharat will remain unfulfilled. This Budget does not address social or economic inequality."

He also claimed that Uttar Pradesh has not received sufficient attention in the Budget's infrastructure planning.

"No major project has been initiated by this government. If there are any, do inform us... They are primarily only completing projects initiated by previous administrations... The forthcoming projects do not reflect Viksit Bharat," he noted.

Focusing on the BJP's anti-corruption claims, Yadav urged the government to assess the state of public infrastructure, especially roads, suggesting that the actual conditions contradict its assertions.

In expressing concern over the implications of the trade agreement on agriculture, he highlighted the difficulties faced by farmers, questioning, "We are all apprehensive about this deal. If all crops are going to be imported from the US, what will our farmers cultivate?"

He also drew attention to environmental issues, pointing out the degrading conditions of major rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna, along with the deteriorating air quality in significant cities, including Delhi and Mumbai.