'Master at telling lies': Rahul slams PM Modi over India-US trade deal, flags impact on farmers
Times of India
by TOI NEWS DESKFebruary 14, 2026
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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi escalated his criticism of the finalized India-US trade deal, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team of deceiving farmers and harming agricultural interests. In a scathing attack on X, Rahul alleged that the agreement would negatively impact India’s cotton farmers and textile exporters by exposing them to harsher tariffs in the US market. He claimed the government has “walked into a trap” that threatens millions of families with unemployment and economic ruin.
Rahul highlighted the disparity between an 18% tariff on Indian garments exported to the US and a special concession allowing Bangladesh to export garments duty-free, provided it imports cotton from America. He argued that this arrangement could lead to Bangladesh reducing its reliance on Indian cotton, further undermining India’s agricultural sector. Rahul questioned whether the deal offered any real benefits for India or was designed to corner the country into a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation.
The Congress leader also referenced his previous criticisms of the trade agreement, accusing Modi of opening India’s agricultural market at Trump’s behest and betraying food security. He claimed the deal prioritizes US interests over those of Indian farmers, who would suffer if forced to import expensive American cotton or face a collapse in their textile industry.
In response, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal rejected Rahul’s allegations as baseless and misleading. In a video post on X, Goyal accused Rahul of fabricating narratives and using fake farmer leaders to stage his attacks. He defended the government’s approach, stating that it had fully protected farmers’ interests in the agreement. Goyal argued that the deal would benefit various sectors, including agriculture, MSMEs, and startups.
The debate over the India-US trade deal has become a focal point of political contention, with implications for global trade relations and domestic economic stability. Rahul’s criticisms highlight concerns about the agreement’s fairness to Indian farmers and workers, while Goyal maintains that the government has acted responsibly
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/14/2026