New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a sharp jibe at the government as he alleged that the government has “sold Bharat Mata” through the India-US trade deal, and that it was a “wholesale surrender” with India’s energy security handed over to America and farmers’ interests compromised.
The remarks were made when Rahul Gandhi was speaking on discussion on Budget.
He said it was “tragic” that the future of 1.4 billion people had been “surrendered to protect the BJP’s financial architecture on which there is a case in the US”.
“The interesting thing is that I know that Prime Minister won’t sell India under normal circumstances. He has sold India because they are choking him. I said when you choke, you see fear in the eyes. You can see it in Prime Minister’s eyes,” the former Congress chief said.
He also alleged that “the point is that I don’t believe that an Indian PM, including Modi, would sign the (US-India) deal unless there was a chokehold on him and has a grip on his neck”.
He said that first, the Epstein case. Three million files are still locked up. Second, if you look carefully at the centre of our budget – as I said earlier, like in jujutsu where a grip is applied – at the centre of our defence budget there is a chokehold applied by a businessman.
The Congress leader claimed that India had “buckled on tariffs, handed over our data, given up control over digital trade rules”.
“(There is) no data localisation, (there is) free data flow to the US, no source code disclosure, and a 20-year tax holiday. The most valuable asset of ours has been handed over,” he added.
He said that 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. This is disgraceful, and no Prime Minister before you or after you will ever do this. You yourself say the era of one superpower is over and that geopolitical conflict is intensifying. You speak of energy and financial weaponisation, and yet, you have allowed the Americans to weaponise our finance and our energy against us,” he said.
“How can you come to this House and defend this? Are you not ashamed of what you are giving away? Rahul Gandhi asked.
While commenting on the US India trade deal, Rahul Gandhi said, “What surprises me is what happened in the US-India Trade Deal.
He said that if the INDIA Alliance were negotiating with President Trump, we would make one thing clear — the most important asset in this equation is Indian data.
“If the U.S. wants to protect the dollar, it must recognise that Indian data is a critical asset, and any discussion must happen between equals, not as masters and servants,” the Lok Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli said.
He also said that “we would also make it clear that India’s energy security is non-negotiable and that while the U.S. may need to protect its farmers, we will protect ours”.
“An INDIA Alliance government would negotiate as an equal power, not allow India to be treated on par with Pakistan, and firmly object to any such symbolism. Let me tell you what is written in the trade deal about data – our most valuable asset, the force that will transform India in the 21st century and make us a superpower. This is what the Modi government has done with our data. The Modi government has given up control over digital trade rules, removed data localisation, allowed free flow of data to the U.S., capped digital taxes, and waived source code disclosure, while offering long tax holidays to big tech companies,” he said, adding that this is what has been done with India’s data.
Rahul Gandhi also said that when negotiating with US President Donald Trump, the most important factor is Indian data.
“You (Trump) want to protect the dollar; we are your friends. And we appreciate you and will help you protect the dollar. The biggest asset for that is the Indian people. Second thing we would say is President Trump, if you want access to this data, you have to talk to us like equals, and not your servants,” he said.
“Second thing we would say, Mr Trump, please understand. Our energy security is our energy security. Third is we understand your voter base is farmers. But we will also protect our farmers. But the main thing I am saying is that the INDIA bloc government will go and say data is our biggest strength. We will go there as equals. And we will not be made equal to Pakistan,” he said.
He also said that our textile wiped out.
“Bangladesh will wipe out our industry. Our energy security handed over. We can’t buy oil… I don’t think any Indian PM would do this. There is no logic. What has happened is full surrender,” Rahul Gandhi added.
