New Delhi: The BJP launched a fierce rebuttal on Saturday against Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the India-US trade agreement, branding the Congress leader a “Leader of Propaganda” and accusing him of deliberately misleading farmers with baseless claims.
Gandhi, in a video on X, warned that the pact would devastate India’s textile sector and cotton farmers, arguing its tariff structure disadvantages India compared to Bangladesh and threatens millions of livelihoods.
BJP leaders dismissed the charges as distortions. Union Minister Giriraj Singh told reporters in Patna that Gandhi’s “rumours” ignore Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to protect farmers in all deals, adding that the Congress leader has “lied multiple times and apologised in court,” citing the recent Naravane book controversy.
National spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla called Gandhi a “modern-day Pinocchio” and “Supreme Court-certified liar,” contrasting the BJP’s farmer safeguards with the UPA’s failed trade pacts and “Family Trade Agreements.” Fellow spokesperson Tuhin Sinha accused him of daily “deception,” shifting from the Naravane falsehoods to this “mischievous” attack on national interests.
Allies piled on: JD(U)’s Rajiv Ranjan hailed the deal as an economic booster for producers and infrastructure, while Neeraj Kumar decried Gandhi’s “political propaganda” exploiting farmers’ sensitivities. Shiv Sena’s Shaina NC said Gandhi hadn’t read the details and that every decision supports farmers and Make in India.
(Inputs from IANS)