Congress slams India-US trade deal, calls It a 'Surrender'

The Congress on Monday criticised the India US interim trade deal agreement the United States and India alleging that the pact compromises India’s farmers, energy security and national sovereignty saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “surrendered” before US President Donald Trump in agreeing to the deal.

- ANAND SINGH

Congress Party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala addresses a press conference at AICC office, in New Delhi on Monday. ANI

The Congress also claimed that it will “devastate” the livelihoods of crores of farmers across states and accepted the challenge of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to have an open debate on the deal with the US.

Addressing a press conference, Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala slammed the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre and said that trade agreements should not become a path to slavery by “sacrificing a country's sovereignty”.

Surjewala, who is also the incharge of Karnataka said:

"Trade agreements are the path to economic progress. The very foundation of trade agreements is mutual public interest on equal terms.

"Trade agreements should not be a path to slavery by sacrificing a country's sovereignty. National and public interests cannot be sacrificed under the guise of trade agreements," Surjewala said.

He stated that India’s energy security was openly compromised and serious questions have been raised about India’s digital autonomy and data privacy.

"Instead of standing firmly in defence of India’s interests, a helpless government compromised India’s sovereignty and self-reliance," the Congress leader said.