Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP over the framework of the trade deal with the United States, alleging that the Centre has “sold out the country.”
In a video message responding to the BJP’s criticism of the Indian Youth Congress’ protest at the AI Impact Summit as “shameful,” Rahul Gandhi called the trade deal framework itself “shameful.”
He said, “Modi ji, do you talk about shame? Let me tell you what shame is. Your name, your minister’s, and your friend’s name appearing together in the Epstein files, being linked to such a vile criminal—this is shameful. The trade deal you’ve made with America, in which you’ve sold out the country—this is shameful. You’ve handed over our country’s data. You’ve harmed farmers. You’ve ruined the textile industry—this is shameful.”
Backing his party leaders for protesting against the Centre, he added that the Congress will not “retreat even an inch.”
“The entire country knows that the ongoing case against Adani in America has kept you awake at night—because it targets the BJP and your financial network. For 14 months, no action has been taken on it—this is shameful. Modi ji, do whatever you deem appropriate for your friends Anil Ambani, Adani, and yourself. The lion-hearted warriors of the Congress Party and I will continue to defend the country—we won’t retreat even an inch,” Rahul Gandhi said.
The Congress has been critical of the India-US trade deal framework, after India agreed to eliminate or reduce tariffs on US industrial goods and a wide range of US food and agricultural products, including dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruits, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and other items.
Although Washington initially announced 18 per cent tariffs on Indian goods under the trade deal framework, the US Supreme Court ruled against the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Following the ruling, the US President set a global tariff level of 15 per cent, effective immediately.
Members of the Indian Youth Congress staged a protest at the Bharat Mandapam venue of the AI Impact India Summit in the national capital, removing their shirts with slogans reading “Compromised PM.” The protest was against the India-US trade deal, and seven Youth Congress leaders were subsequently arrested in connection with the demonstration.
