Rahul Gandhi Claims 'Grips and Chokes' on PM Modi Led to Unequal India-US Trade Deal Terms
Rahul Gandhi accuses PM Modi of yielding to hidden pressures in interim India-US trade agreement, risking farmers' interests and energy security.
Congress Leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on February 20, 2026, intensified his criticism of the interim India-US trade deal, describing it as an "abject surrender" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attributing the decision to invisible "grips" and "chokes" constraining the Prime Minister.
In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi referenced his recent Parliament speech where he drew an analogy from Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art involving holds and submissions. He explained that just as grips and chokes control an opponent in the sport, similar unseen pressures appear to dictate political decisions. "The answer to this abject surrender lies in the 'grips' and 'chokes' placed on the PM," Gandhi stated, suggesting that external or internal forces have trapped the Prime Minister into accepting unfavorable terms.
Gandhi raised several pointed questions about the deal's implications, including why Indian farmers were allegedly "sacrificed" to appease American interests, why India's energy security was compromised by allowing the US to influence oil supply decisions, and why the agreement commits to increasing US imports by $100 billion annually without reciprocal commitments from the US. He also warned that the pact could transform India into a "data colony," raising concerns over digital sovereignty and access to Indian data by American entities.
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The Congress party's ongoing campaign against the trade agreement portrays it as detrimental to key sectors such as agriculture and textiles, potentially devastating livelihoods for millions of farmers and workers while undermining India's economic self-reliance. Gandhi's remarks build on earlier criticisms, where he accused the government of betraying national interests in negotiations with the United States.
This latest salvo comes amid heightened political debate over the interim trade pact, which the government has defended as a step toward stronger bilateral ties and economic growth. Opposition voices, led by Gandhi, continue to demand greater transparency and parliamentary scrutiny of the terms, arguing that the deal disproportionately favors the US at India's expense. No immediate response from the Prime Minister's Office or government sources was available following Gandhi's statement.
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