\n
![](\"https:\/\/i.dawn.com\/large\/2026\/02\/03111019aee7509.webp\")
<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
The Indian National Congress on Tuesday criticised the Narendra Modi-led BJP government for the trade deal struck with the United States on Monday, calling on the government to take the country into confidence about the deal\u2019s details.<\/p>\n
United States President Donald Trump announced<\/a> a \u201ctrade deal\u201d with India on Monday after speaking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying New Delhi agreed to stop buying Russian oil and may purchase it instead from Venezuela.<\/p>\n \u201cJust like the ceasefire, the announcement of the trade deal was also made by US President Trump. It has been stated that the trade deal is being done \u2018on Modi\u2019s request\u2019,\u201d the Congress said in a post on social media platform X on Tuesday.<\/p>\n It slammed the move to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers against the US to zero, saying, \u201cIt seems India has agreed to completely open our market for America. This will impact Indian industry, traders and farmers.\u201d<\/p>\n It also questioned whether the security and interests of Indian farmers had been ensured amid talk of opening the agriculture sector to the US, and whether the Modi government had agreed to the condition stated by Trump that it would no longer buy Russian oil.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n \u201cIn addition, there is talk of buying more goods from America. If that\u2019s the case, then what happened to \u2018Make in India\u2019?\u201d the post added.<\/p>\n \u201cIndia has the right to know details of the trade deal. The Modi government must take the Parliament and the entire country into confidence and share all the details.\u201d<\/p>\n The Kerala chapter of Congress also slammed the move in briefer terms, saying, \u201cSimply put, we will be an American colony.\u201d<\/p>\n It pointed out that the US would still have a tariff of 18 per cent on Indian goods, while India would charge 0pc tariffs on American goods.<\/p>\n \u201cResign and get lost,\u201d it said bluntly, addressing Modi.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n In a different post, the opposition party also called the deal \u201cthe lowest moment\u201d for India and criticised Modi\u2019s apparent bowing down to Trump.<\/p>\n \u201cNarendra Modi surrendered India\u2019s sovereignty to the US to keep his friend and himself out of jail,\u201d it said, apparently referring to businessman and Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the lowest moment for the country. Complete surrender without even fighting!\u201d<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Congress member Jairam Ramesh, meanwhile, compared Modi\u2019s stance now to his \u201csurrender\u201d during the India-Pakistan conflict<\/a> in May 2025.<\/p>\n He said that while India-US relations had appeared bright at the start of Trump\u2019s re-election, things had gone \u201cdownhill\u201d ever since the US president\u2019s halting of Operation Sindoor<\/a> on May 10.<\/p>\n He said that Trump\u2019s enthusiastic embracing of Pakistan, and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, had \u201cexposed the hollowness of Modi\u2019s huglomacy\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom the information President Trump has provided, it is abundantly clear that Prime Minister Modi has \u2014 like he did on May 10, 2025 \u2014 completely surrendered.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has most definitely appeased President Trump,\u201d Ramesh said, adding, \u201cIndia stands diminished by this unfortunate sequence of events.\u201d<\/p>\n He called for both the EU and US trade deals to be laid on the table of both Houses and debated.<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Congress member Supriya Shrinate expressed concern over the \u201cdeeply worrying\u201d reaction of US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to the announcement, in which she said the deal would \u201cexport more American farm products to India\u2019s massive market, lifting prices, and pumping cash into rural America\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cModi had promised that he won\u2019t compromise the interests of Indian farmers,\u201d she said. \u201cBut America says there will be a massive surge in export of American agricultural products to India \u2014 how can India allow this?\u201d<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n On the other hand, India\u2019s External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar welcomed the trade deal, claiming that it would create more jobs, spur growth and promote innovation in both economies.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will strengthen \u2018Make in India\u2019 endeavors and encourage trusted technology ties,\u201d he said on X. \u201cThe opportunities in our economic engagement are truly vast and we are confident of realising them.<\/p>\n \u201cA robust economic relationship is the strongest foundation for our strategic partnership.\u201d<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n After Trump\u2019s announcement on Monday, Modi took to X to express his happiness with the reduction of tariffs on India.<\/p>\n \u201cBig thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cI look forward to working closely with him to take our partnership to unprecedented heights.\u201d<\/p>\n \n <\/a>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Modi was one of the first leaders to visit the White House after Trump\u2019s inauguration for his second term in January 2025, but that has not stopped difficult trade negotiations over the past year.<\/p>\n The trade talks fell apart<\/a> last year, and Trump doubled<\/a> tariffs on Indian goods in August to 50pc, the world\u2019s highest rate, including a levy of 25pc in retaliation for India\u2019s purchases of Russian oil.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n