Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of signing the India–US trade deal under pressure. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi questioned why the deal, which had been stalled for nearly four months, was suddenly cleared. He also claimed that he was not allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha because the Prime Minister was “scared”.
Gandhi made these remarks after a day of repeated disruptions in the Lok Sabha, where he was stopped from continuing his speech during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address. The Congress leader said the government must explain the circumstances under which the trade deal was finalised and place full details before the country.
According to Gandhi, the timing of the deal raised serious questions. He said the agreement was signed suddenly late on Monday night after remaining pending for months. He alleged that the Prime Minister was under “tremendous pressure” and suggested that this pressure influenced the decision.
Addressing the media, Rahul Gandhi said that Prime Minister Modi’s public image was weakening and that this was the reason behind the sudden move. He claimed that the image built around the Prime Minister over the years was now “breaking” and that those who once helped create it were no longer protecting it.
Gandhi alleged that the Prime Minister had “sold the country” by signing the trade deal. He said the people of India should reflect on who was pressuring the Prime Minister and why such pressure existed. According to him, this was the first time a Leader of Opposition was not allowed to speak properly on the President’s address, which he called a serious matter for democracy.
He further claimed that there were two major pressure points influencing the Prime Minister. One, he said, was related to legal issues involving businessman Gautam Adani in the United States. Gandhi alleged that the case against Adani was indirectly a case against the Prime Minister himself. He also referred to the Epstein files in the US, claiming that more information was yet to be released and that this could be another source of pressure.
Gandhi said these factors had made the Prime Minister “compromised”. He urged citizens to think carefully about how such pressure could affect national decisions, especially those linked to trade and the economy. He repeated that the government owed a clear explanation to the public on the India–US trade agreement.
The Congress leader also questioned why the Centre had not shared details of the deal in Parliament. He said transparency was essential when decisions of such importance were taken, as trade agreements directly impact farmers, workers, small businesses, and industries across the country.
Earlier in the day, the Lok Sabha witnessed heavy disruptions as Rahul Gandhi attempted to raise certain issues during his speech. Amid loud protests from treasury bench members, Gandhi tried to “authenticate” an article that cited an unpublished memoir of a former Army chief. This led to objections from the government.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Speaker had already given a ruling on the matter and that Gandhi could not raise the same issue again under any pretext. Rijiju stated that once a ruling was given by the Chair, it had to be respected by all members.
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As the ruckus continued, the Chair called the next speaker, but opposition MPs protested the decision. Some members shouted slogans and created disorder, forcing the House to be adjourned. Gandhi later told reporters that the disruptions were deliberate and meant to silence him.
The Congress leader alleged that the Prime Minister did not want him to speak because he was uncomfortable with questions related to the trade deal and national security. He said that the government was avoiding debate and shutting down discussion in Parliament.
The Centre, however, rejected these allegations. Government sources said the trade deal was signed after due process and discussions, and not under any pressure. They also said that Parliament had clear rules on what could be discussed and how members should raise issues.
Senior ministers maintained that the Speaker’s ruling must be followed and that disorder in the House was not acceptable. They accused the opposition of repeatedly disrupting proceedings instead of engaging in constructive debate.
Despite the government’s response, the Congress continued to press for details of the trade deal. Party leaders said such agreements should be discussed openly in Parliament so that concerns of different sectors could be addressed.
The India–US trade deal is expected to have wide economic implications, and its sudden finalisation has become a major political flashpoint. Rahul Gandhi’s remarks have further intensified the debate, with both sides standing firm on their positions.
As Parliament remains tense, the issue is likely to dominate political discussions in the coming days. The opposition is expected to continue demanding transparency, while the government insists that all procedures have been followed.
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