New Delhi: Mallikarjun Kharge, President of the Congress party and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, has strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government over the recently announced India-US trade deal. Kharge voiced concerns that the deal, allegedly revealed by former US President Donald Trump, could compromise national interests and negatively impact Indian farmers.
Kharge raised several pointed questions regarding the specifics of the agreement, questioning whether India had conceded to zero tariffs on American imports, as claimed by Trump. He also expressed apprehension about the potential opening of India's agriculture sector to US farm products, which he believes could endanger the livelihoods of Indian farmers. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Kharge argued that the agreement primarily benefits American producers and could devastate India's agriculture sector.
In a post on X, Kharge stated that while India and the United States have shared a comprehensive global strategic partnership for years, the manner in which the current trade deal was announced marked a sharp departure from past practice. He cited the Indo-US nuclear deal signed under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as an example of transparency, noting that the Congress-led UPA government had consistently taken Parliament into confidence while negotiating major international agreements.
Kharge lamented the lack of communication from Indian authorities about the deal's details during Parliament sessions. He criticized the Modi government for unveiling the framework while Parliament was in session without placing details before lawmakers. He accused the administration of compromising national interests through the recently announced India-US trade deal, warning that it would force Indian farmers into unfair competition with their American counterparts and severely impact their livelihoods.
Kharge warned the Union government by predicting a resurgence of farmer protests, saying, “The farmers' revolution will happen again, and you will have to take these measures back." Questioning India's global standing, Kharge asked, “When our sovereignty is being attacked, when we are under the control of Trump, what is our position in our world?”
The Congress President described the Union government's position as untenable, remarking that “even if the advocacy is good, the case is so bad that it cannot be won". He criticised the President's address for remaining silent on key issues and outlined several critical areas he intended to highlight before the House; social justice, social harmony, attacks on constitutional institutions, economic challenges, the struggles of farmers and labourers, and shortcomings in foreign policy.
The BJP has responded to Kharge's criticism, asserting that the trade agreement is in India's interest and that Parliament must be allowed to function. BJP leader Nalin Kohli accused the opposition of blocking debate through repeated disruptions.