We Will Talk to Trump as Equals, Not Servants: Rahul Gandhi
LoP lists three-point INDIA bloc strategy on data, energy, and farmers in US trade talks
- Rahul Gandhi spells out INDIA bloc’s stance on US trade negotiations
- Says India must be treated as an equal partner
- Flags data access, energy security, and farmers’ interests as priorities
- Congress questions terms of interim trade understanding with US
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 11th Feb: Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday outlined what the INDIA bloc would tell US President Donald Trump regarding the latest trade understanding between the two countries, stressing equality, data protection, energy security, and farmers’ interests.
Gandhi’s remarks came after senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor described the proposed arrangement as less of a free trade agreement and more like a pre-committed purchase that undermines reciprocity.
Addressing the issue, Gandhi listed three key points that he said the Opposition alliance would present in negotiations with the United States.
“The first thing we would say is that if you want to protect your dollar, the biggest asset that can help is with the Indian people. If you want access to this data, then you must talk to us as equals, not as servants,” Gandhi said.
He added that India would safeguard its energy security under all circumstances, in an apparent reference to US pressure on India to reduce oil imports from Russia.
“Third, we would say that while you may want to protect your farmers, we will also protect ours. Let’s talk as equals. We would not accept being treated on par with Pakistan,” he said.
The remarks came after the White House issued a revised fact sheet on the interim trade understanding. An earlier version had stated that India would eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of agricultural products, including pulses, and would commit to purchasing over $500 billion worth of American energy, technology, agricultural, and other products.
In the revised version, the reference to pulses was removed, and the wording was changed from “committed” to “intends” regarding India’s purchases.
Gandhi also attacked the Centre during the ongoing Budget session, a day after the Congress alleged that India had voluntarily weakened its own negotiating leverage in the trade discussions.
The Budget session of Parliament is scheduled to end on April 2. Both Houses will adjourn for a recess on February 13 and reconvene on March 9 to allow standing committees to examine the demands for grants of various ministries and departments.
