New Delhi: Two Union ministers on Friday accused Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of spreading lies about the India-US trade deal and asserted that farmers’ interests have been “fully protected” under the agreement.
In video messages posted on X, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan described Gandhi as a “habitual liar” who does not want farmers to be empowered.
The ministers’ remarks came after Gandhi in a video message posted on X accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being “anti-farmer” and “selling” the country through the India-US interim trade deal.
Hitting out at the Congress leader, Goyal said, “In a video released today, he has broken all records of speaking falsehoods and making baseless allegations. He is misleading our farmers with his fake narrative and trying to provoke our annadatas. He has never cared for our motherland, nor can we expect him to work for a strong and prosperous future for India.”
Goyal further said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has always been empathetic towards our kisan brothers and sisters. He has always put the interest of farmers first and taken all decisions to ensure their prosperity. PM Modi has implemented several schemes which have transformed the lives of crores of farmers.”
Further hitting out at Rahul, Goyal said, “I don’t think Rahul ji ever cared for the benefit of our farmers or will ever understand what is good for our annadatas.” He added, “No matter how much lies you peddle or attempt to mislead our farmers, or even attempt to discredit the country…”
Reassuring farmers about the recently concluded interim trade deal with the US, Goyal said, “In the recent trade deal with the United States of America, the interests of farmers have been kept paramount and fully protected.”
“In this agreement, all major crops of our farmers, including wheat, rice, millets, soyameal, corn, GM food products, spices and potato have been fully safeguarded. We have also fully protected the interests of farmers producing major fruits, including apples,” he added.
“India’s doors have not been opened to dairy products or poultry,” he emphasised.
Goyal said, “The truth is that many of our products, including basmati rice, fruits, spices, tea, marine products and many more will find new markets, increase exports and boost farmers’ incomes.”
“We have opened huge markets for cotton textile exports, which will increase the demand for cotton manifold, benefiting cotton farmers. Every decision taken in the trade deal is in the best interests of Maa Bharat, and 140 crore Indians, including our farmers and youth,” he said.
The Union Minister said the US trade deal would benefit farmers through higher exports of agricultural output and increased demand, leading to higher prices and prosperity for the farmers.
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also criticised Gandhi, calling his claims “baseless”.
In a video posted on X, Chouhan said, “Rahul Gandhi is a liar. He has nothing to do with the country and its farmers. He does not like the empowerment of farmers. He is always seen saying anti-national things. He broke all records of lying in his video message.”
He asserted that PM Narendra Modi has consistently acted in farmers’ interests and that schemes launched under his leadership have changed their lives. “Farmers’ interest has been fully protected in the recent deal signed with America,” he said.
The remarks from the ministers came after Gandhi, in a video message on X, accused Prime Minister Modi of being “anti-farmer” and of “selling” the country through the India-US interim trade deal.
Last week, India and the US agreed on the framework for an Interim Agreement on reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade, marking a significant step towards a full-fledged US–India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). The agreement will involve the elimination or reduction of tariffs on US industrial goods and a wide range of food and agricultural products.
The interim pact is intended as a bridge arrangement, unlocking early market access gains while negotiations continue on a broader, legally binding BTA covering goods, services, supply chains and digital trade.
