Rahul Gandhi Slams PM Modi Over India‑US Trade Deal

February 11, 2026

New Delhi, Feb 11: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre, claiming that the recently struck India‑US trade deal amounts to surrendering the future of 1.4 billion Indians. Addressing reporters in the Parliament House complex, Gandhi accused the government of finalizing the agreement under undue pressure from the United States and failing to protect India’s national and economic interests.

‘Future of Indians Sold Out,’ Opposition Says

Rahul Gandhi alleged that PM Modi was “compromised” and “under pressure” when he agreed to the trade deal, which had remained stalled for months before being concluded. He claimed that the Prime Minister signed the agreement hastily, to the detriment of Indian farmers, workers and the broader economy effectively selling out the “blood and sweat” of the nation’s citizens. The deal, he argued, represented more of a capitulation than a strategic win.

Gandhi also noted that the trade agreement includes controversial elements like tariff adjustments that critics say could disadvantage Indian exporters and farmers while giving U.S. industries greater access to Indian markets. He insisted that the government should have debated the full terms of the pact in Parliament before finalizing it.

Opposition’s Broader Criticism

The Leader of the Opposition said the deal had dramatic implications for India’s economic sovereignty, asserting that it could undercut local industries and compromise India’s long‑term growth prospects. Several opposition parties have raised concerns that the pact does not adequately safeguard Indian farmers and workers from increased competition from U.S. imports and have demanded greater transparency in its negotiation and implementation.

Rahul Gandhi’s criticism comes amid a wider pushback from other Opposition voices, with Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh calling the agreement a “sell‑out” and an “abject failure” of India’s economic diplomacy. Meanwhile, some critics outside politics have described the deal as a coerced concession rather than a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Government Defends the Deal

The Centre, however, has rejected such allegations. Union ministers and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have termed the pact a strategic and diplomatic achievement, asserting that it opens up significant market access for Indian exporters, strengthens partnerships in key sectors, and enhances opportunities for MSMEs, startups and job creation. They argue that tariff reductions and cooperative frameworks will ultimately benefit India’s economy and global trade standing.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has also accused Gandhi and other opposition figures of misleading the public by focusing only on negative aspects without acknowledging the potential economic gains. Supporters of the deal stress that it positions India as a more confident global partner and pushes for deeper economic links with the U.S. while maintaining protections for sensitive sectors.

Calls for Transparency and Debate

Amidst continued contention, opposition parties have urged the government to publish the full text of the trade agreement in Parliament and allow a detailed discussion and vote. They argue that such transparency is vital for democratic accountability and to ensure that India’s long‑term interests particularly in agriculture, manufacturing, and data policy are adequately protected.

As debates intensify in the Parliament’s Budget Session, political stakeholders remain sharply divided over whether the India‑US trade deal marks a diplomatic triumph or a strategic compromise that could shape India’s economic trajectory in the years to come.