New Delhi: The Congress party has launched a strong critique against Prime Minister Narendra Modi following remarks made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio concerning India’s commitment to purchasing $500 billion worth of American goods over the next five years. The opposition party alleged that the Prime Minister, described as “compromised,” is making excessive efforts to appease a “good friend.”
Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, questioned the Modi government’s decision not to renounce the India-US trade deal, which he characterized as “anti-people” and “dangerous,” drawing a parallel with countries like Malaysia that have reportedly taken such actions. Ramesh also raised concerns about the government agreeing to substantial imports from the US at a time when the Prime Minister has publicly urged citizens to reduce domestic fuel consumption and overseas travel to conserve foreign exchange. He further inquired whether this surge in imports would lead to further depreciation of the Indian rupee.
Rubio’s statement, which implied that India would need to double its annual imports from the US, has been met with skepticism by the Congress. The party has posed five direct questions to the Prime Minister regarding this development, emphasizing that other nations have declared their trade agreements with the US as void following a US Supreme Court ruling that overturned Trump-era tariffs, which formed the basis for these agreements.
The opposition party has also linked the India-US trade pact to alleged concessions made under pressure. Congress leaders have claimed that the deal was hastily concluded by the Prime Minister while he was reportedly under pressure following an expose in Parliament, leading the Modi government to unilaterally make significant concessions that could potentially harm Indian farmers and industries.
In a related development, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused Prime Minister Modi of compromising national interests to secure relief for industrialist Gautam Adani in a US legal case. Gandhi alleged that the trade agreement was not a genuine deal but a “bargain for Adani’s release,” citing reports that the US government is considering settling or dropping lawsuits linked to alleged bribery accusations against Adani.
Jairam Ramesh echoed these sentiments, accusing the Prime Minister of acting on threats from US President Donald Trump rather than prioritizing national interests. Ramesh further questioned the rationale behind the Modi government’s agreement to the trade deal, describing it as “hopelessly one-sided” and serving American interests more than India’s. He also referenced the abrupt halt of “Operation Sindoor” on May 10, 2025, suggesting it was done under duress from President Trump.
The controversy over the India-US trade deal has intensified political debate, with the opposition parties accusing the government of failing to generate sufficient jobs and strengthen domestic industries. The government, however, has consistently maintained that India remains one of the fastest-growing major economies and has highlighted its initiatives in infrastructure, manufacturing, digitalization, and welfare programs as key drivers of growth.
The US Secretary of State’s visit, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, comes after a period of strain due to Washington’s trade and tariff policies. While many of these tariffs were rolled back in an interim agreement, a comprehensive trade deal is yet to be finalized. Rubio has expressed optimism about finalizing a bilateral trade deal soon, emphasizing that it would be “beneficial” and “sustainable” for both nations. He indicated that a US trade delegation would visit India shortly to advance the talks.
During his visit, Rubio also met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, discussing ways to deepen cooperation in security, trade, and critical technologies. The discussions also touched upon energy security, with Rubio highlighting the potential for US energy products to diversify India’s supply and asserting that the US would not allow Iran to hold the global energy market hostage.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
