New Delhi, Feb 21 (UNI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge today launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi government over its recent trade understanding with the United States, alleging that New Delhi had entered into a “trap deal” that compromised India’s national interest and strategic autonomy.
In a post on X, Kharge questioned the timing and terms of the agreement, asking why the government had not waited for a US Supreme Court judgment on tariffs before finalising what he described as a one-sided arrangement.
“Clueless Foreign Policy or One-Sided Surrender?” Kharge wrote, accusing the Modi government of rushing into a deal “which extracted huge concessions from India.”
Referring to the joint statement issued after high-level engagements between India and the United States, Kharge claimed that the agreement included zero tariffs on several American exports to India, which he alleged would “virtually open up India’s agriculture to American goods.”
He further alleged that the deal envisaged importing goods worth USD 500 billion from the United States, included a commitment to halt purchases of Russian oil—potentially affecting India’s energy security—and extended tax concessions on the digital front.
“Modi ji must stand before Indians and tell the truth,” Kharge said.
The Congress chief directly questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over what he termed a compromise of national interest.
“What or who pressured you into compromising India’s national interest and strategic autonomy?” he asked, adding a provocative reference to the “Epstein Files”.
Kharge also demanded that the government “wake up from its deep slumber” and renegotiate a trade deal that protects the “self-respect of 140 crore Indians” and safeguards the interests of farmers, workers, small businesses and traders.
The remarks come amid intensified political debate over India’s evolving trade and strategic ties with the United States, particularly in the areas of tariffs, digital taxation, agriculture market access and energy procurement. The opposition has repeatedly accused the government of making unilateral concessions in trade negotiations, while the Centre has maintained that deeper economic engagement with the US strengthens India’s global position and supply chain resilience.
The government has previously argued that India’s foreign policy balances national interest with strategic partnerships and that diversification of trade and energy sources enhances long-term security rather than undermining it.
Kharge’s latest comments signal that trade policy and strategic autonomy could emerge as key political flashpoints, especially if details of the proposed trade framework come under greater public and parliamentary scrutiny in the coming weeks.
