Gov Greg Gianforte leads delegation to India to pitch pulse exports
United States Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and Montana Governor Greg Gianforte arrived in New Delhi with a delegation of more than 30 Montanans to pitch agricultural exports, targeting India’s vast consumer base for pulse crops, timesofindia.indiatimes.com reported.
Selling Montana Pulses to India
The mission runs through October 9 and continues to Sri Lanka. Montana operates as America’s largest producer of lentils and chickpeas, while India functions as the world’s largest consumer and importer of pulse crops.
Trade figures from 2025 show that India’s purchases of Montana peas, lentils, and chickpeas reached roughly $14 million, restricted largely to chicken feed use. Those purchases, alongside commercial aircraft parts, placed India as Montana’s 29th-largest trading partner.
Political Backlash Against Trade and Education Ties
Governor Gianforte’s trade mission has generated immediate opposition among MAGA hardliners. Critics question why Montana should expand ties with India when Indian students and faculty maintain prominent roles at Montana universities.
Online discussions singled out Montana State University faculty members with Indian roots, including agricultural engineering professor Shivali Banerjee, who holds a PhD from IIT Bombay. Critics also targeted Sreekala Bajwa, vice president for agriculture, and Dilpreet Bajwa, head of mechanical and industrial engineering at the institution.
The controversy highlights a wider division within Republican politics. Governors must grow their state economies by pursuing foreign investment and export markets, yet the political language of the MAGA movement frequently questions that approach.
Abbott and Gianforte Balance Business Ties with Visa Restrictions
Gianforte faces a distinct economic necessity in Montana. Local farmers require external markets beyond state borders to sell their lentils, and universities rely on international talent to remain competitive in research and technology.
Historical precedent exists within Montana’s own diplomatic record. Mike Mansfield, the state's former senator and ambassador to Japan, strongly advocated for strong ties with India during the 1960s, establishing a tradition of broad international engagement for the state.