New Delhi, February 25 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it has been more than 24 hours since he challenged the PM to scrap the India-US interim trade deal, and once again, Modi has "quietly left for Israel".
In response, the BJP said that Prime Minister Modi "doesn't go on secret vacations in Thailand and Colombia and project the country in a poor light like you do".
In a post on X in Hindi, Gandhi said, "Narendra 'Surrender' Modi, it has been more than 24 hours since I challenged you to cancel the US Trade Deal -- and once again, you've quietly left for Israel."
"At least once, you've already 'danced and sung' in Israel at Epstein's behest - so this time, on whose orders will you make a deal against the country's interests and return?" the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
Speaking in Bhopal, Gandhi had said on Tuesday that the Indo-US interim trade deal was sealed under pressure and dared Prime Minister Modi to scrap the "anti-farmer" agreement, following the US Supreme Court ruling.
Addressing the 'Kisan Mahachaupal' rally, the former Congress chief had described the agreement as "an arrow in the heart of farmers".
"After the US Supreme Court ruling on the trade deal (global tariffs), I challenge PM Modi to scrap it if he has courage...but he won't be able to do so," Gandhi had said.
The BJP responded to Gandhi, saying the prime minister is "addressing the Knesset in Israel and securing India with technologies like the 'Sudarshan Chakra'".
"He doesn't go on secret vacations in Thailand and Colombia and project the country in a poor light like you do," BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said in a post on X, reacting to Gandhi's remarks.
The BJP leader asked Gandhi to first disclose what's in the memorandum of understanding that the Congress signed with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) a few years ago.
"Why do you have a secret friendship with China and are you so resentful of India's progress?" he asked, adding, "Modi is elevating the country's reputation on the world stage, while you and your clan only conspire to defame India on international forums."
In a major setback to President Donald Trump's key economic agenda for his second term, the US Supreme Court, in a 6-3 verdict, ruled that the tariffs imposed by the president on nations around the world were illegal and that he had exceeded his authority when he imposed the sweeping levies.
Gandhi has alleged that the prime minister approved the agreement under external pressure linked to the threat of releasing "Epstein files" and an ongoing criminal case involving industrialist Gautam Adani in the US.
