Bharat Mata sold, it’s a wholesale surrender: Rahul on trade deal
NEW DELHI, Feb 11: In a sharp critique during the Union Budget debate, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused the Modi government of “selling Bharat Mata” through the India-US interim trade deal, calling it a “wholesale surrender” that compromised India’s energy security and farmers’ interests.
Gandhi alleged that no Indian Prime Minister, including Modi, would have agreed to the deal unless under a “chokehold” by the US, using a martial arts analogy to describe India’s submission.
He said India is entering a dangerous global era, citing ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and the Middle East, and stressed the need to protect India’s people, data, food, and energy. Gandhi argued that an “INDIA bloc” government would have negotiated as an equal, safeguarding India’s data, energy, and agricultural interests while asserting the country’s sovereignty.
Gandhi criticized the deal for handing over India’s energy security to the US, claiming the government has allowed foreign control over oil purchases and financial measures.
He alleged that farmers, textiles, SMEs, and software engineers have been “sold out,” and that India has surrendered its future to protect the BJP’s financial interests abroad.
He also attacked the government on digital trade, claiming it removed data localization, allowed free flow of Indian data to the US, limited digital taxes, waived source code disclosure, and offered long tax holidays to big tech companies.
On tariffs, he said India’s average duty has risen from 3% to 18%, while US tariffs on Indian goods have fallen from 16% to zero.
Gandhi argued that this disadvantages Indian farmers and exposes them to mechanized American agriculture, effectively crushing small-scale farmers.
Throughout his speech, Gandhi repeatedly accused the government of surrendering India’s sovereignty, highlighting concerns over energy, agriculture, trade, and digital security.
He concluded that the government has compromised India’s future, putting the country at a disadvantage while protecting party interests, calling the deal “disgraceful” and unprecedented in Indian history.
BJP dismisses Rahul Gandhi’s India-US trade deal claims as ‘false’
The BJP on Wednesday strongly rejected Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s accusations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “sold Bharat Mata” through the India-US interim trade deal, calling them “ridiculously false” and misleading.
Gandhi had claimed the government compromised India’s energy security, farmers’ interests, and sovereignty, alleging a “wholesale surrender” to the US. BJP leaders, however, accused him of using “street language” in Parliament and deliberately misrepresenting facts.
BJP chief spokesperson Anil Baluni said Gandhi’s claims were based on outdated US fact sheets and misread documents.
He clarified that India has expressed an intention, not a binding commitment, to purchase up to USD 500 billion in goods over coming years. Baluni accused Gandhi of building arguments on selective readings that distort reality, weakening parliamentary debate and misleading the public.
Sudhanshu Trivedi, BJP national spokesperson, echoed these views, calling Gandhi’s remarks baseless and slanderous, saying he repeatedly violated parliamentary decorum despite warnings from the Chair. Trivedi criticized Gandhi’s understanding of diplomacy and economic policy, describing his conduct as “sadak chhap” (street-like) in tone and behavior.
Baluni further countered Gandhi’s claims regarding data security, saying the Budget incentivizes data centers in India until 2047, promoting data localization and creating opportunities for Indian IT firms.
He highlighted that proposals in the Budget for rare earths, semiconductors, and critical mineral corridors strengthen India’s supply chains amid global volatility.
The BJP also refuted claims about removing the digital services tax or opening India’s agriculture sector. Baluni said Gandhi relied on older US fact sheets and that the trade agreement only states that new digital rules will be negotiated.
India imports pulses worth USD 2–2.6 billion annually, and cotton imports from the US are minimal compared to domestic production.
Regarding tariffs, Baluni clarified that while some Indian exports face higher rates currently, nearly 45% of exports—including pharmaceuticals, electronics, and gems—are taxed at very low or zero rates.
Effective tariffs are expected to decrease further once the trade deal is finalized.
In summary, the BJP dismissed Gandhi’s allegations as factually incorrect and politically motivated, defending the Modi government’s trade and economic policies as safeguarding India’s interests while fostering growth, supply chain resilience, and data security. (PTI)
