The Indian National Congress sharply criticised the Narendra Modi‑led government on Tuesday over a recently announced trade agreement with the United States, demanding transparency and urging the government to fully inform both Parliament and the public about the pact’s specifics.
The deal, publicly unveiled by US President Donald Trump after a call with Prime Minister Modi, outlines a reduction in tariffs on Indian exports and a broader trade cooperation framework. Trump also said that India agreed to halt purchases of Russian oil as part of the arrangement, which he portrayed as a mutual economic advancement.
In a social media post, Congress accused the Modi government of not properly consulting the nation before finalising the agreement, likening the announcement to previous instances where major decisions were publicly declared by the US rather than India’s leadership. The opposition party warned that eliminating tariff and non‑tariff barriers in India’s market could seriously impact domestic industries, traders and farmers. It also questioned whether safeguards for India’s agricultural sector had been assured amid talk of opening it to American competition.
The Congress criticised the reported pledge to stop buying Russian crude, asking what that means for India’s strategic autonomy and the “Make in India” initiative if the country increases imports from the US. A Kerala chapter of the party even dismissed the deal in brief terms as turning India into an “American colony.”
At the same time, senior Congress figures said the pact represented a low point for India’s international stature and accused Modi of making excessive concessions to maintain favourable relations with Trump. They called for the full details of both the US and European Union trade deals to be presented and debated in Parliament.
On the other side, India’s External Affairs Minister welcomed the agreement, stating it could generate jobs, promote economic growth and advance technological cooperation between the two nations. Modi himself thanked Trump on social media for the tariff reductions and said he looked forward to deepening bilateral partnership, framing the outcome as beneficial for India’s development.
