The Indian National Congress (INC) sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government over the recent trade agreement with the United States, urging full transparency on the deal’s terms.
The deal, announced by US President Donald Trump on Monday, reportedly includes New Delhi’s commitment to stop buying Russian oil and potentially purchase it from Venezuela. Trump also highlighted that the trade agreement was made at Modi’s request.
The Congress accused the government of opening India’s markets to the US, claiming that tariff and non-tariff barriers have been reduced to zero. “This will hurt Indian industries, traders, and farmers,” the party said in a statement on X. Questions were also raised about whether Indian farmers’ interests are safeguarded and whether the government’s commitment to Trump’s conditions on Russian oil was secured.
The Kerala chapter of Congress described the deal bluntly, warning that India risks becoming an “American colony.” It also criticised the imbalance in tariffs, noting that the US will continue to impose an 18% tariff on Indian goods while India removes all tariffs on American products, and called on Modi to resign.
In contrast, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar praised the trade deal, saying it will create jobs, boost economic growth, and strengthen technology ties between the two nations. “This agreement will support ‘Make in India’ initiatives and expand strategic economic cooperation,” he tweeted.
Modi also expressed his satisfaction on X, thanking Trump for the tariff reductions and emphasizing his intent to elevate the US-India partnership to new heights.
