(Image source from: Economictimes.indiatimes.com)
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “selling the country” by yielding to the United States on matters related to agriculture, data, and textiles under “pressure” linked to undisclosed files concerning convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and a criminal case in the US allegedly involving the Adani Group. While addressing the Kisan Mahachaupal in Bhopal, Gandhi stated that these elements coerced the Prime Minister into hastily pushing through the India–US trade agreement without first getting Cabinet approval. He charged that discussions with the US had been stuck for four months regarding agriculture because the government was unwilling to allow American soy, cotton, corn, and pulses into Indian markets. “No farmer in India supports this, no politician agrees with this, and the Indian government was also against it,” he remarked, adding that negotiations were “at a standstill” until the Prime Minister unexpectedly changed his stance. Gandhi accused Modi of “running out of the Lok Sabha” during the deadlock and later personally calling then US president Donald Trump to finalize the agreement. “The reality is that the Prime Minister couldn’t face Parliament,” Gandhi said, claiming that there was no consultation with the Cabinet. “Ask Shivraj Chauhan ji… ask Rajnath Singh ji, ask Gadkari ji; nobody consulted the Cabinet. The Prime Minister just called and declared, ‘I am ready to make the deal. ’”
Gandhi argued that the agreement was a betrayal of various sectors. “He sold the farmers of India. He sold our textile industry. Handed over all of our data to America,” he noted, calling the deal “an arrow in the heart of the farmer. ” The Congress leader attributed the government's choice to what he characterized as two pressures from the US. The first, he stated, was related to unreleased Epstein files. “In America, countless Epstein files are sitting untouched… emails, messages, videos, everything,” Gandhi said, alleging that selective leaks were being used to apply pressure. He continued, “Anil Ambani is not my friend. Narendra Modi ji, you explain to the nation, what is your connection with Anil Ambani? Anil Ambani appears in the Epstein file. Hardeep Puri is mentioned in the Epstein file. And there are more names in the Epstein file that remain concealed. That is the first reason. ”
Gandhi also claimed that a legal issue in the United States involving businessman Gautam Adani posed a more serious danger. “Adani ji is unable to travel to America… he fears that if he leaves India… they might arrest him,” Gandhi mentioned, adding that “the real aim of that case isn’t Adani… the focus is on Narendra Modi ji.” He went on to accuse the Prime Minister of giving up India's advantage in strategic information. “The data age belongs to the 21st century,” Gandhi argued, stating that India produces more data than any other nation. “In this agreement, in a small note at the back, Narendra Modi transferred all of India’s data to America,” he remarked. Gandhi also questioned why India did not pull out of the deal after the US Supreme Court dismissed the tariffs imposed by Trump. “Other nations declared, ‘We are cancelling our agreements too.’ But Narendra Modi didn’t say a word,” he stated, challenging the Prime Minister to cancel the deal. “If you have the guts, then do it. He’s unable to do this. ”
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge supported the criticism, cautioning that the agreement would harm small and local farmers and weaken domestic businesses. Comparing American and Indian agriculture, Kharge noted, “In our nation, 65 percent of the population relies on farming… here we have small plots, two acres, four acres—these small farmers. And today, Modi is ruining them. ” Kharge charged that inexpensive American goods would flood into India, pushing farmers out of the market. “What will our farmers do? Where can they go? ” he asked, accusing Modi of aligning with Trump “instead of supporting the farmers. ” He also criticized the government's foreign policy approach, claiming it showed weakness regarding energy security. Mentioning oil purchases from Russia and Iran, Kharge said Trump had issued threats to India, and “Modi replied: ‘Yes sir’. ” Describing the agreement as unacceptable, Kharge stated, “Any trade deal that endangers national interests is not acceptable to us. Attacking the livelihoods of farmers is not acceptable… compromising India’s growth and self-sufficiency is not acceptable. ”
In reply to these statements, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav questioned Gandhi on whether he could “explain the difference between a Rabi and Kharif crop. ” “Rahul Gandhi should say sorry to the people of the state… The Congress did wrong by the farmers. During its 55 years in power, the irrigated land in the state was merely 7.50 lakh hectares,” he claimed.
