New Delhi | RBN News
The India–U.S. trade agreement has triggered a sharp political confrontation, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly countering allegations made by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and questioning whether the Congress is acting in India’s national interest.
BJP MP and former Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday accused the Congress and other opposition parties of consistently undermining India’s global economic engagements. Speaking to reporters in the Parliament House complex, Thakur said the opposition’s reaction to the India–U.S. trade deal raised serious doubts about its commitment to the country’s interests.
“The question that arises is whether the Congress and the opposition stand with India or against it,” Thakur said, alleging that sections of the opposition had even welcomed the imposition of U.S. tariffs on Indian goods in the past.
He further claimed that the opposition had raised objections not only to the India–U.S. trade arrangement but also to free trade agreements signed by India with the United Kingdom and the European Union, indicating a pattern of resistance to India’s expanding trade partnerships.
BJP Alleges ‘Anti-India Mindset’
Thakur accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership of displaying what he described as an “anti-India mindset”, asserting that opposition leaders were repeatedly disrupting parliamentary proceedings instead of allowing constructive debate.
“This mindset is evident in the way the opposition is not even allowing Parliament to function,” he added.
Rahul Gandhi’s Allegations
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had succumbed to pressure from the United States to finalise the trade deal. Gandhi claimed the agreement had compromised the interests of Indian farmers and accused the government of rushing through the deal after it had remained pending for several months.
Addressing reporters after being denied an opportunity to speak in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi said it was unprecedented for a Leader of Opposition to be prevented from speaking on the President’s address. He argued that the sudden conclusion of the trade deal pointed to “external pressure” on the Prime Minister.
Gandhi further alleged that legal developments involving Indian business interests in the U.S. had influenced the government’s decision-making, and claimed that the deal amounted to “selling out” the country’s farmers and broader national interests.
Escalating Political Tensions
The BJP has dismissed these accusations as politically motivated and lacking factual basis, maintaining that the India–U.S. trade deal is designed to strengthen economic ties, protect Indian exporters, and enhance India’s position in global trade.
The controversy has intensified tensions during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, with the opposition accusing the government of stifling debate, while the ruling party alleges deliberate obstruction by opposition leaders.
As the debate over the trade agreement continues, the issue is expected to remain a flashpoint both inside Parliament and in the broader political discourse.
