Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday about the India–US interim trade agreement, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘sold the nation’. He pointed out that India’s tariffs had risen from 3% to 18%, while US tariffs were reduced from 16% to zero.
Gandhi stressed that India’s data resources are its most critical asset in negotiations with the United States. He further alleged that the Prime Minister appeared intimidated during the talks, claiming that Modi faltered under US pressure and that one can see the fear in his eyes.
He said, “The interesting thing is that I know that the PM won’t sell India under normal circumstances. He has sold India because they are choking him. I said when you choke, you see fear in eyes. You can see it in the PM’s eyes.”
“Two things. First is Epstein files,” Gandhi said, adding that “at the centre of our Budget… As I said in jujitsu, you can see choke but not in politics.”
Chair Jagdambika Pal, however, stepped in and said that he would not permit this. Gandhi consented to refrain from discussing the Epstein Files.
“I was looking at the economic survey. Two points I saw there. First, we are living in a world with geopolitical conflict. The old US-based system, based on the dollar, is being challenged. It is being challenged by China and Russia,” he said.
“We are living in a world where energy and finance are being weaponised. The main thing is that we are moving from a world of stability to a world of instability. The PM and NSA stated that the era of war is over. In fact, we are moving towards war. Wars are underway in Ukraine and Gaza… The dollar is being challenged. We are moving from a world of one superpower to multiple superpowers. And that is what is said in the economic survey, and I agree with that.”
Gandhi also said that we need to realise that our core strength is our people, Maktoob Media reported.
“We are moving into a turbulent and dangerous world. When that happens, we need to understand what our strengths are as a person and as a nation. I would like to say what I think are the strengths of our great country. The central strength is our people. 1.4 billion, brilliant, energetic and dynamic. Biggest strength. But it is not only the people… people create data, and we have the biggest pool of data. 1.4 billion people create massive data and data is strength.”
He stressed data as one of the main strengths of India across industries.
“Talking about AI is talking about internal combustion engine without talking about petrol. The petrol for AI is data. If you have AI and not data, you have nothing. Biggest pool of data on planet are Chinese and India.”
Gandhi listed India's key qualities, which must be protected during challenging times around the world.
Besides emphasising people and data as its main strength, Gandhi stated, “The second strength is those who produces our food: the farmer and labourers. This is what allows data to be generated.”
“The third thing is what you need to run a modern country. Energy, fuel and petrol. These are the three things that need protection in turbulent times.”
Rahul Gandhi stated that we, as a country, and the government, must understand that data is India's power. He said, “The Budget recognized these turbulent times… the Dollar is being challenged. There is absolutely nothing in the Budget on energy and finance. The Budget reads like any other Budget. And Budget comes once a year.”
“In parallel to the Budget, something new has come — the US deal. One thing I would like to make very clear. In a contest between US and China, the single most valuable asset is Indian data. If the US wants to remain a super power and want to protect the dollar, the key to that is Indian data,” he said.
“China also has 1.4 billion people’s data. If India is going to go to the table, it should say this is what we will put on the table. That is the Indian people, their dynamic nature… I remember people saying population is our weakness. But no, it is our strength. But that is only if we recognise that data is our strength,” he asserted in the House.
He added that Indian data is the most crucial in the country’s equation with the US.
“While negotiating with [US] President Trump, the most important thing in this equation is Indian data. You want to protect dollar, we are your friends. And we appreciate you and help you protect Dollar. The biggest asset for that is Indian people. Second thing we would say is President Trump if you want access to this data, you have to talk to us like equals,” he said.
“Not your servants. Second thing we would say Mr Trump please understand. Our energy security is our energy security. Third is we understand your voter base is farmers. But we will also protect our farmers. But the main thing I am saying is that INDIA bloc govt will go and say data is our biggest strength. We will go there as equals. And we will not be made equal to Pakistan,” he emphasised in the House.
Gandhi said that India's tariffs increased from 3% to 18%, whereas that of the United States decreased from 16% to zero per cent.
“At the beginning, three per cent was the average, now 18 per cent. 6 times increase. US imports to go up from 46 billion dollars to 146 billion dollars. This is absurd. They have no commitment to us. We have a commitment to them. We are standing there like fools. Our tariff has gone up from 3 to 18 per cent. Theirs has come down from 16 to 0 per cent,” Gandhi said in the House.
Gandhi criticised US President Donald Trump for holding power over India by picking and monitoring from whom India buys its oil.
He said, “People across the aisle here want to protect the people. I also believe is PM understand that people are India’s biggest asset and data. And PM understands this.”
“Next: textile/ I visited a factory in Gurgaon. People said we are finished. Bangladesh’s tariff has been reduced to zero, ours is 18 per cent. Let's talk energy. What we need for our data. Energy security gone. Now, US will decide who we buy oil from… Russia, Iran. They will decide and monitor, not our PM. If India buys oil from anyone they do not wish us, they will take the tariffs back,” he said.
He said, “Our farmers for the first time are facing a storm… You have opened the door to mechanised US farms. This is disgraceful. No PM has done this and no PM will do it after you.”
“You accept we are facing a storm. You have allowed the US to weaponise our finance and energy against us. What does it mean when US saying you can’t buy oil from somebody. It means our energy is being weaponized. You are telling us energy and finance is weaponised and then you are letting it be done to us. How can you come to the House? Are you not ashamed?”
“The point is that I don’t believe that an Indian PM, including Mr Modi, would sign the deal unless there was a chokehold on him,” he said in the House.
“We have buckled on tariffs, handed over our data, given up control over digital trade rules, no data localization, free data flow to US, no source code disclosure, and 20 year tax holiday. The most valuable asset of ours has been handed over,” Gandhi underlined.
“Our farmers have been left to the mercy of mechanised massive US farms. Our textile sector wiped out. Bangladesh will wipe out our industry. Our energy security handed over. We can’t buy oil… I don’t think any Indian PM would do this. There is no logic. What has happened is full surrender,” he added.
Gandhi questioned why businessman Anil Ambani and minister Hardeep Singh Puri were not in jail, despite their names being mentioned in the Epstein Files.
“There is a businessman named Anil Ambani. Why is he not in jail? His name is in Epstein files. I would like to ask Mr. Hardeep Puri who introduced him to Epstein. Puri is a minister,” Gandhi alleged.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju interrupted, asking him to verify his claims. Gandhi stated that he would authenticate immediately, causing a commotion inside the House.
Gandhi said: “Minister has asked me to authenticate my allegations. I have it written here,” following which Chair Jagdambika Pal asked him to submit it.
Gandhi said, “The evidence is in (US) department of justice files released in US. Hardeep Puri and Anil Ambani names are there,” to which Pal said how can Gandhi name the minister when he has promised chair that he won’t.”
Following his allegations against Anil Ambani and Hardeep Singh Puri, Gandhi presented the files to back up his claims before completing his statement.
“I have papers and documents to authenticate. What I want to conclude with is that we are heading into turbulent times and that nation has been sold out, data, farmers, software engineers, small medium businesses have been sold, our forces and energy security has been sold out,” Gandhi concluded.