Washington, April 23 (IANS). Former Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi on Thursday expressed concern over the US-India trade talks and demanded more political representation for women.
Speaking at the Hudson Institute’s ‘New India Conference’, Chaturvedi criticized the way negotiations on tariffs have been handled, especially in the context of recent US measures.
“We were negotiating a tariff that was imposed on us… and which reached 18 percent,” Chaturvedi said, referring to the ongoing trade talks between the two countries.
He raised questions over the ambitious bilateral trade targets, asking, “$500 billion… where will it come from?” And warned that such projections have raised concerns among Indian farmers and dairy producers.
Chaturvedi also raised India’s energy security concerns, especially in the context of external pressure on oil imports. He said, “It is our own decision, and it is something that we must decide… keeping in mind the energy security needs of our country.”
He stressed that India has historically adopted an approach of continuity and reliability towards partnerships. Chaturvedi said, “We are invested in this relationship, seeing the United States as a trusted ally… This should continue.”
At the same time, he also cautioned against public pressure in diplomacy. “Not throwing tantrums at us, not telling us what to do, but really understanding our challenges,” he said, outlining his expectations from Washington.
Beyond business, Chaturvedi focused on domestic political reforms, particularly women’s representation in the Parliament of India. He said that despite women being almost half the population, their representation is still limited.
“Fifty per cent of India’s voters and population are women… but in terms of representation, we have barely reached 13 per cent, 14 per cent,” he said.
Referring to the long-pending issue of reservation for women, Chaturvedi said, “This is a battle that has been fought for representation for the last three decades.”
She expressed concern over the delay in implementing 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament, and argued that linking it to broader structural changes could slow progress.
“Let us open doors for women within the existing structure as it exists now in Parliament,” she said.
Chaturvedi said that it is necessary to expand representation to strengthen democratic institutions.
She said, “I stand in favor of the women of the country that they should get representation.” She also pointed to India’s global role in promoting equality, noting initiatives such as vaccine distribution and advocacy at the WTO, saying, “India was at the forefront of this fight to make it more accessible.”
–IANS
SCH