In a sharp critique of the recently concluded India-US trade agreement, Rahul Gandhi, a leading opposition figure, articulated how the INDIA bloc would have approached negotiations with the United States, particularly under a hypothetical scenario involving former President Donald Trump. Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Gandhi asserted that the current government had failed to leverage India's most valuable asset: its data. He argued that the INDIA bloc would have adopted a far more assertive stance, ensuring India was treated as an equal partner and safeguarding its strategic interests.
Gandhi stated that the INDIA bloc's primary message to President Trump would have centered on the paramount importance of Indian data. He emphasized that this data is a crucial asset for protecting the American dollar and that access to it should only be granted through negotiations that recognize India's equal standing. "We would tell President Trump, if you want access to Indian data, you will have to talk to us as an equal. We would not be made equal to Pakistan," Gandhi declared.
Beyond data, Gandhi highlighted other critical areas where the INDIA bloc would have drawn a firm line. He stressed the importance of protecting India's energy security and the interests of its farmers. He also implied that the INDIA bloc would not accept a situation where President Trump would give importance to Pakistan, as he said, "If President Trump decided that the Pakistan Army Chief was going to have breakfast with him, then we would have something to say about that".
Gandhi accused the current government of surrendering key digital and economic safeguards in the trade agreement. He expressed concern over the loss of control over digital trade rules, the lack of data localization requirements, and the free flow of data to foreign entities. He argued that these concessions jeopardize India's potential to become a superpower in the 21st century, particularly in the digital realm. He went further by saying, "You have sold India. Are you not ashamed of selling India? You have sold our mother, Bharat Mata".
To illustrate his point, Gandhi drew an analogy from martial arts, explaining the importance of establishing a firm grip in negotiations. He said that the "grip" is followed by a "choke" to secure control which ultimately leads to the opponent surrendering.
Gandhi also pointed to the Economic Survey, which highlights the intensifying geopolitical conflict and the weaponization of energy and finance. He contrasted this with the Prime Minister and National Security Advisor's assertions that the era of war is over, arguing that the world is, in fact, moving into an era of instability, citing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and the Middle East. He emphasized that in a world where the US's dominance is being challenged, India's data is a valuable asset that should be strategically leveraged. He stated that if Americans want to remain a superpower and protect their dollar, the key to that is Indian data.