Rahul Gandhi Condemns India-US Trade Agreement as a National Compromise
In a fiery address to the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi delivered a scathing critique of the recently signed India-United States trade agreement. The Congress leader asserted that the deal was poorly negotiated and represented a significant compromise of India's strategic and economic interests.
Data Sovereignty as India's Key Bargaining Chip
Rahul Gandhi emphasized that India failed to leverage its most valuable asset during negotiations with Washington. "The most important thing in this equation is Indian data," he declared, outlining the approach the INDIA bloc would have taken with US President Donald Trump. "We would tell President Trump, if you want access to Indian data, you will have to talk to us as an equal. We would not be made equal to Pakistan."
The opposition leader insisted that his coalition would have adopted a far firmer stance, directly linking data access to broader economic considerations. "You want to protect your dollar? We are your friends. We appreciate you. We want to help you protect your dollar. But please remember that if you want to protect your dollar, the biggest asset that can protect your dollar is lying with the Indian people," Gandhi elaborated.
Alleged Surrender of Digital and Economic Safeguards
Gandhi leveled serious accusations against the Modi government, claiming it had surrendered crucial digital and economic protections in the agreement. He presented a detailed list of what he described as concessions:
- Relinquishing control over digital trade rules
- Eliminating requirements for data localization
- Allowing free data flow to the United States
- Implementing limits on digital taxation
- Removing obligations to disclose source code
- Granting 20-year tax holidays to major corporations
"The thing that is going to transform India in the 21st century, the thing that is going to make us a superpower in the 21st century, this is what the Modi government has done with our data," Gandhi lamented.
Protection of Farmers and National Security
The Congress leader extended his criticism to agricultural and security matters, vowing that an INDIA bloc government would have taken a different approach. "Our energy security is our energy security and we are going to protect it. INDIA bloc government would have told Trump 'we will protect our farmers,'" he asserted.
Gandhi warned that the trade deal would dramatically increase India's dependence on American imports while offering minimal benefits in return. "For first time in history our farmers are facing a storm; you've opened door to crush poor farmers, no PM has ever done this," he charged.
Emotional Appeal and Accusations of Betrayal
In his most emotional remarks, Gandhi accused the government of betraying the nation through the trade agreement. "You have sold India. Are you not ashamed of selling India? You have sold our mother, Bharat Mata," he declared, characterizing the deal as a "wholesale surrender."
The opposition leader also referenced diplomatic matters, suggesting his coalition would have addressed different priorities. "If President Trump decided that the Pakistan Army Chief was going to have breakfast with him, then we would have something to say about that," Gandhi noted, contrasting this with what he viewed as inadequate attention to India's core interests in the trade negotiations.
Throughout his speech, Gandhi maintained that the current administration had missed a historic opportunity to assert India's position as an equal partner on the global stage, particularly in the critical arena of digital economy and data sovereignty.
