New Delhi, February 14, 2026 — Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi government, alleging that the recently finalized interim trade agreement with the United States is effectively "cheating" India's cotton farmers and textile exporters.
In a post on X accompanied by a video explanation, Gandhi highlighted what he described as a lopsided tariff structure in the deal. He pointed out that Indian garments face an 18% tariff in the US market, while Bangladesh enjoys a 0% tariff concession on its garment exports—provided it imports cotton from the United States. Gandhi claimed this creates a "trap" for India: importing American cotton would devastate domestic cotton farmers by reducing demand for their produce, while refusing to do so would make India's textile industry uncompetitive, potentially destroying a sector that employs around five crore families.
"The government is cheating cotton farmers and textile exporters over tariffs in the India-US trade deal," Gandhi wrote. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal of spreading confusion and misleading the public, calling the agreement a "surrender" that forces a choice between harming farmers or the textile industry—or both. Gandhi further alleged that the deal undermines India's food security and farmers' interests more broadly, echoing his earlier criticisms that the government opened agricultural markets under pressure from US President Donald Trump.
The remarks follow Gandhi's meeting with representatives from 17 farmer unions on Friday, where discussions focused on potential nationwide protests against the trade pact. Farmer leaders expressed concerns over impacts on crops like cotton, soybean, maize, fruits, and nuts.
The government and BJP leaders swiftly rejected Gandhi's allegations. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal dismissed them as "baseless," "stage-managed," and part of a "politics of negativity," accusing Gandhi of misleading farmers and exporters with fabricated narratives. Goyal emphasized that the Modi government fully protects farmers' interests and that the deal presents opportunities for growth. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey called Gandhi a "mahamurkh" (great fool) for his criticism, while other party figures accused him of attempting to sabotage India's economic progress.
The interim India-US trade framework, finalized after negotiations, aims to boost bilateral ties amid global trade shifts. However, critics like Gandhi argue it fails to adequately shield key domestic sectors from adverse effects.
The controversy has intensified political debates ahead of potential further discussions on trade and agriculture, with opposition parties signaling continued resistance to elements perceived as detrimental to Indian livelihoods.
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