New Delhi, 06 February (H.S.): Opposition parties, spearheaded by Congress, staged a vehement protest in the Parliament House complex on Friday against the burgeoning India-US trade agreement, branding it a perilous betrayal of Indian farmers and small traders' livelihoods. Led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, the demonstration decried the Modi administration's stance as capitulation to American diktats.
In a fiery exchange with journalists amid the rally, Kharge lambasted the pact as a direct assault on our farmers and merchants, predicated entirely on US terms. He warned that it would fling open India's agricultural markets to American imports, precipitating economic devastation for domestic producers—a critique echoed in broader opposition fears of market flooding and job erosion.
The agitators further accused the government of muzzling dissent within Parliament, alleging that Rahul Gandhi has been systematically denied the floor on vital national concerns, constituting a blatant affront to democratic norms. Placards aloft and slogans resounding—Dictatorship Won't Be Tolerated, Narendra, Surrender, and Stop Murdering Democracy—the MPs amplified their fury.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress General Secretary, stood alongside Rahul Gandhi and fellow opposition legislators in solidarity.
The uproar follows US President Donald Trump's February 2 social media revelation of discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on trade, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and energy collaboration—announcing tariff reductions from 25% to 18% on Indian goods, tied to India's pledge to curb Russian oil imports. While the White House hails it as opportunity-unlocking, detractors decry scant details and safeguards for sensitive sectors.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
