New Delhi, Feb 20 (UNI) Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Centre over the recently announced India–US trade agreement, questioning its terms and alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had conceded too much under external pressure.
In a series of posts on X, Gandhi invoked a martial arts metaphor to frame his criticism. “Why did I use a Jiu-Jitsu analogy in my Parliament speech on the trade deal?” he wrote, before listing a series of pointed questions about the agreement.
Gandhi alleged that key domestic interests had been undermined in the negotiations with the United States.
“Why were our farmers sacrificed to please the Americans?” he asked, suggesting that increased market access for US agricultural products could hurt Indian producers.
He further questioned the energy provisions of the deal. “Why was India’s energy security compromised by allowing the US to dictate our oil supplies?” Gandhi wrote, arguing that strategic autonomy in energy sourcing was critical for India’s long-term stability.
Gandhi also raised concerns about trade imbalances. “Why agree to increase US imports by $100 billion a year without a reciprocal promise?” he asked, claiming that the arrangement appeared disproportionately favorable to Washington.
In one of his strongest remarks, Gandhi said the agreement risked undermining India’s digital sovereignty. “Why did I say this deal could turn India into a data colony?” he wrote, without elaborating on specific clauses but hinting at concerns over cross-border data flows and regulatory frameworks.
Gandhi concluded his post with a direct challenge to the Prime Minister’s decision-making. “Why would Modi ji agree to a deal where India gives so much and appears to get so little?” he asked.
“The answer to this abject surrender lies in the ‘grips’ and ‘chokes’ placed on the PM,” Gandhi added, extending his Jiu-Jitsu analogy to suggest that the Prime Minister was under pressure in the negotiations.
The trade agreement between India and the United States has been presented by the government as a milestone in deepening bilateral economic ties. Officials have argued that enhanced market access, supply chain integration and technology partnerships will boost growth and create jobs.
However, the opposition Congress party has demanded greater transparency, calling for a detailed debate in Parliament on the terms and long-term implications of the pact.
The government has not yet formally responded to Gandhi’s latest remarks, though it has previously dismissed similar criticisms as politically motivated and maintained that the deal safeguards India’s economic and strategic interests.
