Chandigarh, December 28, 2025: Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Sunday strongly criticised the Central Government’s decision to reduce the import duty on apples from New Zealand from 50 per cent to 25 per cent under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), calling it a betrayal of Indian farmers and a move against the principles of Swadeshi.
Sandhwan said that while the Centre repeatedly talks about promoting indigenous products and strengthening domestic manufacturing, its policies are instead favouring foreign producers at the cost of Indian farmers. He remarked that such decisions resemble the colonial-era practices of the East India Company, which weakened local industries to benefit overseas commercial interests.
The Speaker warned that the reduction in import duty poses a serious threat to India’s apple economy, valued at nearly ₹5,000 crore, and could severely impact the livelihoods of lakhs of farming families dependent on horticulture, particularly in apple-growing regions.
He alleged that the Central Government has failed to stand by its assurances of protecting domestic farmers and agricultural producers, adding that policies of this nature risk destabilising the rural economy and discouraging local cultivation.
Urging the Centre to reconsider its move, Sandhwan demanded an immediate review of the decision and called for strong corrective measures to safeguard the interests of Indian farmers, especially those engaged in fruit cultivation and horticulture.
