Congress Brands India-US Trade Deal a “Total Surrender”, Says Modi Has Compromised National Interests
From Our Political Correspondent
New Delhi: The Congress party on Saturday launched a fierce attack on the recently announced India-US trade framework, calling it not a “deal” but a “complete surrender” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to American pressure. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters, party spokesperson and Chairman of Media & Publicity Pawan Khera alleged that the agreement sacrifices Indian farmers, the middle class, MSMEs, and national self-respect to serve the interests of a few corporate houses and possibly to protect the Prime Minister’s personal vulnerabilities.
Khera began with sarcasm, claiming the entire government now operates on “American time zone”. “All decisions — from ceasefire announcements to this deal — are coming from America in their early morning, which is our late night. That is why everyone looks jet-lagged without even travelling,” he said.
He described the agreement as one extracted under duress rather than negotiated as equals. “A deal is done across the table, face to face. When a gun is held to your temple or blackmail is used, it is not a deal — it is surrender. Name is Narendra, but the work is surrender,” Khera remarked, adding that even as the opposition, the Congress feels pained when India’s Prime Minister “kneels” before any foreign power.
The Congress leader claimed India has committed to import $500 billion worth of American goods over the next five years — roughly tripling annual imports from the current $40-42 billion to $100 billion — without any matching commitment from the US side. “India has become America’s dumping ground,” he alleged, warning that the rupee’s weakness and the state of the economy make such a commitment unsustainable.
Khera accused the government of hiding the real impact on Indian agriculture. While Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has repeatedly stated that dairy, certain fruits, and sectors where India is “Atmanirbhar” remain protected, Khera dismissed these assurances. “Mr Goyal read out a list of what will not come. The important question is: what will come? The list that matters is the one he did not read — and that list will come from Washington, not from him,” he said.
He alleged that American agricultural products — fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and potentially dairy in the future — would flood Indian markets, devastating local farmers. “American farmers are celebrating today because they have got India’s huge market. Our farmers will have their backs broken,” Khera claimed, drawing parallels with the repealed farm laws, which the government had also initially claimed were in farmers’ interest.
Khera speculated on possible reasons for what he called Modi’s “compromised” position, mentioning protection of corporate interests of Adani and Ambani, and even unverified references to the Prime Minister’s name appearing in Jeffrey Epstein-related files. “We don’t know exactly what fear or pressure is operating, but the country can see that the Prime Minister is scared and repeatedly surrendering,” he said.
The Congress spokesperson also highlighted apparent confusion within the government, noting that ministers were deflecting questions to each other and that clarifications seemed to originate from the US side rather than New Delhi.
When asked if the party would launch a nationwide campaign, Khera responded affirmatively. “This is an attack on India’s strong agricultural backbone and economy. As a responsible opposition, we will take this issue to the streets,” he said.
The Commerce Ministry and BJP have rejected the Congress criticism, with Piyush Goyal insisting that no sensitive sectors like dairy have been opened and that Indian exporters will gain better access to the US market. The government has described the framework as a balanced step towards deeper economic ties with the United States.
