In a sharp critique, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused the government on Wednesday that the India-US interim trade deal has "sold Bharat Mata," representing a "wholesale surrender" that compromises India's energy security and farmers' interests.
Participating in the debate on the Union Budget, Gandhi stated that he doesn't believe any Indian prime minister, including Narendra Modi, would agree to such a deal unless they were under "duress."
"Why has Modi done this? Because he is under pressure. They have a hold on him," Gandhi said, explaining the analogy of a martial arts technique where a grip is established, followed by a chokehold, forcing the opponent to yield.
Gandhi pointed out that Prime Minister Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had previously stated that the era of war is over.
"In fact, we are entering an era of conflict. There is conflict in Ukraine, there was conflict in Gaza, there is conflict in the Middle East, there is a threat of conflict in Iran, and we had Operation Sindoor," Gandhi said.
He emphasized the importance of protecting the country's people, data, food supply, and energy system.
Gandhi argued that had the INDIA bloc government negotiated the trade agreement with the US, they would have told President Donald Trump that India should be treated as an equal.
"We would have told Trump that the most important asset in this situation is Indian data. If the US wants to protect its dollar, it must recognize that Indian data is the biggest asset. Second, we would have told President Trump that 'if you want access, you will talk to us as an equal, not as servants'," Gandhi said.
He stated that the INDIA bloc government would have told Trump that India's energy security is non-negotiable, and that they would "protect our energy security."
"We would have also told President Trump that we will protect our farmers," Gandhi said.
Gandhi argued that the INDIA bloc government would have insisted that data is the country's greatest strength, and that they would negotiate "as equals." They would not be treated as equals by Pakistan. If President Trump decides that the Pakistani army chief will have breakfast with him, we will have something to say about it," Gandhi said.
Gandhi accused the government of weaponizing energy and finance, allowing the Americans to do so.
"How can you come here and defend this? Are you ashamed of what you are giving away?" Gandhi said, criticizing the treasury benches.
"I am saying you have sold India. Are you ashamed of selling India? You have sold our mother, Bharat Mata. Do you have no shame?" he said.
MPs from the treasury benches repeatedly rose to object, demanding that Gandhi provide evidence to support his claims.
Gandhi also referred to a case against a businessman in the US. Jagdambika Pal, who was chairing the session, asked Gandhi not to name those who are not members of the House.
"I don't believe any Indian PM, including Modi, would sign such a deal unless they were under pressure," he said.
Speaking with reporters outside the new Parliament building, Gandhi claimed that the names of Union minister Hardeep Puri and businessman Anil Ambani have figured in the 'Epstein Files' released in the US.
He said summons have also been issued in the ongoing case against Adani, and the Indian government has not responded to them for the past 18 months.
"There is direct pressure on PM Modi. Without any pressure, no prime minister of India would ever compromise on matters concerning the country's farmers, data, energy security, and defence. No one would do this unless there is heavy pressure and a very strong hold over them," Gandhi told reporters.
In a post on X, Gandhi said, "The India-US Trade Deal has mortgaged the future of 140 crore Indians. The jobs of the youth are at stake, the crops of farmers are on the negotiating table, and energy security is being surrendered to the terms of a foreign country."
"No Prime Minister surrenders like this without massive pressure. India understands - this deal is not one of equals, it is one of compulsion. Whether from the Epstein files or the Adani Case - Modi ji has sacrificed national interest in his bid to save power," Gandhi said in his post.
In his address inside the House, Gandhi claimed that through this deal, the interests of farmers have been compromised, textiles have been wiped out, and energy security has been "handed over" to the US.
"This is a wholesale surrender," he alleged.
"It is a tragedy because it is not just a surrender of the PM; he has surrendered the future of 1.5 billion Indians. He has surrendered because he wanted to protect the BJP's financial architecture on which there is a case in the US," Gandhi said.
"We are heading into turbulent times, and the nation has been sold out. Its data has been sold, its farmers have been sold, all our software engineers have been sold out. Small and medium businesses have been sold out, our forces and our energy security has been sold out," Gandhi alleged.
Criticising the Indo-US deal, he claimed that the Modi government has given up control over digital trade rules, removed data localisation, allowed free flow of data to the US, limited digital tax and waived source code disclosure, while offering 20-year tax holidays to big tech companies.
On tariffs, at the beginning, there was a 3 per cent average, but it has now gone up to 18 per cent, he said.
US imports would go up from USD 46 billion to 146 billion, he said, adding that this is absurd.
While our tariff has gone up from 3 per cent to 18 per cent, theirs has come down from 16 to zero, he said.
"For the first time in Indian history, our farmers are facing a storm. You have opened the door to mechanised American farms spanning thousands of acres, effectively crushing our small farmers. It is disgraceful, and no Prime Minister before you has done this or after you will ever do this," Gandhi said.
