Patna, February 19 Senior Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda criticised the Narendra Modi government over the trade deal with the US on Thursday, alleging that it would make the country "dependent on America instead of being self-reliant".
The Haryana MP made the remarks at a press conference in Patna, where he also charged the BJP government with appearing "weak, instead of firm".
"The trade deal has made people wonder whether we will achieve 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat' instead of 'America Nirbhar Bharat'. We seem to have a weak government instead of a strong one," alleged Hooda.
The Congress leader claimed that the deal "compromised the interests of our farmers, jeopardized the country's energy security, and put India's data privacy and digital economy at risk".
"Already, by conceding to the Trump administration, the Modi government has started importing cotton from the US. Cotton farmers in the country have suffered a double blow. They are unable to export their produce to Bangladesh while the prices have fallen by up to Rs 1,000 per quintal less than the MSP," said Hooda.
With the waiver of import duty on fruits and nuts from the US, lakhs of cultivators in states like Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh are all set to be adversely affected, claimed the Congress leader.
"The trade deal also compels India to buy oil from the US, without any assurance that prices will be as competitive as those already on offer from Russia and Iran. The deal has also warned India of a fresh penalty if oil is imported, directly or indirectly, from Russia. The nation wants to know why the government has agreed to such terms and conditions," said Hooda.