Rahul Gandhi Demands Scrapping of India-US Trade Deal, Accuses PM Modi of Selling Out Farmers
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi issued a direct challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, urging him to cancel the interim India-US trade agreement, which he labeled as detrimental to Indian farmers. Speaking at the 'Kisan Mahachaupal' rally in Bhopal, Gandhi described the deal as an "arrow piercing the hearts of Indian farmers" and criticized the government for pushing it forward.
Allegations of Corruption and Pressure Tactics
Rahul Gandhi made a series of serious accusations against Prime Minister Modi, claiming the trade pact was finalized under duress. He alleged that Modi rushed into the agreement to protect Union minister Hardeep Puri and industrialist Gautam Adani, whom Gandhi referred to as the "BJP's financial structure." According to Gandhi, Puri's name in the Epstein files was released to threaten the Prime Minister, and he hinted at unreleased videos and messages from those files held in the US.
Further, Gandhi asserted that the criminal case against Adani in the United States is actually targeted at PM Modi, not the industrialist. He stated, "Adani faces criminal charges in the US. He cannot go to the US or Europe. The target of the case in the US is Modi, not Adani." Gandhi linked these issues to Modi's withdrawal from Parliament, suggesting they were key reasons behind the sudden finalization of the trade deal after months of stagnation.
Timing of the Deal and Lack of Consultation
The Congress leader questioned the timing of the trade agreement, noting it had been stalled for four months before Modi abruptly called former US President Donald Trump to seal it. Gandhi claimed that on the same day he questioned Modi in the Lok Sabha about ex-Army chief MM Naravane’s book, the Prime Minister left Parliament and contacted Trump without consulting his Cabinet. "Without consulting Rajnath Singh, Shivraj Chouhan, Gadkari, in fact, without consulting his Cabinet, Narendra Modi called Trump," Gandhi said, accusing Modi of selling out India's farmers, garment industry, and data.
He also dismissed the NDA's excuse that opposition women MPs planned to attack Modi during his parliamentary address, calling it a false pretext to cover up the Prime Minister's actions. "The truth is that the Prime Minister could not stand in Parliament and then directly call Trump," Gandhi emphasized.
References to Military Leadership and National Security
Cornering the government over General MM Naravane's unpublished book, Rahul Gandhi highlighted allegations that the former Army chief was left without guidance during a critical moment with Chinese incursions. He quoted Naravane as saying that calls to Rajnath Singh, Ajit Doval, and S Jaishankar went unanswered, and Modi hid in his room, leaving the Army Chief to make decisions alone. "The decision of war is taken by the Prime Minister, but the PM did not answer," Gandhi stated, underscoring the political nature of such decisions.
In his rally speech, Gandhi reiterated his charge that "PM Modi sold India's farmers, garment industry and data," and challenged the Prime Minister to prove his integrity by scrapping the trade deal. However, he expressed doubt, saying, "I challenge PM Modi to scrap it...but he won't be able to do so." The allegations come amid ongoing farmer protests and heightened political tensions, with Gandhi positioning himself as a vocal critic of the government's economic and foreign policies.
