Rahul Gandhi Intensifies Criticism of Modi Government Over India-US Trade Agreement
Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a fresh offensive against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government on Friday, sharply criticizing the recently finalized India-United States trade deal. In a series of pointed remarks, Gandhi labeled the Prime Minister as "Narendra Surrender Modi" and accused him of betraying the nation's agricultural community.
"A Direct Attack on Livelihoods": Gandhi's Allegations
Rahul Gandhi asserted that the trade agreement represents far more than a standard economic pact. "This isn't just a trade deal; it's a direct attack on the livelihoods of our food providers," he declared. The Congress leader emphasized that Indian farmers, already struggling with numerous challenges, are being placed at a severe disadvantage.
Taking to social media platform X, Gandhi shared a video from his meeting with a delegation of farmers' unions in Parliament. In his accompanying post, he detailed the concerns expressed during the discussion. "In today's meeting in Parliament with the delegation from farmers' unions, their concerns were clearly evident," he wrote.
Gandhi elaborated that farmers are "already grappling with inflation, rising costs, and uncertainty over Minimum Support Price (MSP)," and are now being "left unprepared to face foreign crops backed by massive subsidies and mechanised strength." He characterized the situation as fundamentally unequal, stating, "This isn't a fair fight; it's one-sided pressure."
Government's Response: Accusations of Baseless Claims
The Union government swiftly rejected Rahul Gandhi's allegations. Senior ministers Piyush Goyal and Shivraj Singh Chouhan issued strong rebuttals, dismissing the opposition leader's statements as entirely unfounded.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal launched a personal attack, terming Gandhi a "habitual liar" who is "misleading farmers with a fake narrative and trying to provoke them." Goyal further accused the Congress leader of having no genuine concern for the nation, stating, "He has never cared for our motherland, nor can we expect him to work for a strong and prosperous future for India."
In a separate post on X, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan echoed these sentiments, asserting, "Rahul Gandhi is a liar and has nothing to do with the interests of farmers. He consistently speaks against the nation's interests." Chouhan defended the government's position, claiming, "PM Modi has always taken decisions in the best interests of farmers. Farmers are fully protected under the Indo-US trade agreement."
Context of the Trade Deal and Previous Criticisms
This war of words erupts shortly after India and the United States unveiled their new trade framework, the culmination of months of negotiations that commenced in February 2025. A key provision of the agreement involves a significant reduction in tariffs on Indian exports to the US, slashing them from 50% to 18%. The government maintains this will substantially boost Indian trade and enhance global competitiveness.
Rahul Gandhi has previously criticized the deal, alleging it "betrays our food security and farmers." In earlier comments, he controversially claimed that Prime Minister Modi opened India's agricultural market because US President Donald Trump "has him by the throat."
Reiterating his and the Congress party's stance amidst the current controversy, Gandhi affirmed, "Come what may, the Congress Party and I stand with India's food providers for their rights, security, and dignity." He insisted that "The government's empty assurances won't wash anymore" and warned that "The future of our farmers cannot be bartered away without their consent."
The political confrontation highlights the deep divisions over the economic pact, with the opposition framing it as an existential threat to agriculture and the government championing it as a progressive step for national trade interests.
