Ministers Issue Midnight Rebuttal Over Rahul’s Trade Deal Charges

New Delhi: Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday rejected allegations by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi that the India-US interim trade deal compromised farmers’ interests, well past midnight asserting that the agreement fully safeguards the agriculture sector

The rebuttal followed a video message posted by Gandhi on X, in which he accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being “anti-farmer” and “selling” the country through the trade deal.

Commerce and industry minister Goyal said, “In a video released today, he (Gandhi) has surpassed all limits in making false statements and levelling unfounded allegations. He is misleading farmers with a fabricated narrative and attempting to provoke our annadatas. He has never demonstrated concern for the nation, nor can we expect him to contribute to building a strong and prosperous India,”

He stated that major crops, including wheat, rice, millets, soybean, corn, GM food products, spices and potatoes, have been “fully safeguarded”. “We have also fully protected the interest of farmers producing major fruits, including apples. India's doors have not been opened for dairy products or poultry,” he said.

Goyal added, “We have opened up large international markets for cotton textile exports, which will significantly boost demand for cotton and directly benefit our farmers.” He further said, “Modi has consistently acted in the interests of farmers, taking decisions aimed at ensuring their prosperity. In the recent trade agreement with the US, farmers’ interests were kept paramount and fully safeguarded.”

Union agriculture minister Chouhan termed Gandhi’s claims “baseless” and 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 the Prime Minister has always taken decisions in the interest of farmers. “The schemes launched under his leadership have changed the lives of farmers. Farmers' interest has been fully protected in the recent deal signed with America,” he said.

Addressing the 64th convocation ceremony of ICAR-IARI later in the day, Chouhan said, “All the FTAs, including one with the EU and other countries, are all in the interest of the country. The deal with the US is in India's national interest and completely safeguarded. The interests of the farmers have been kept at the top.”

In an apparent reference to Gandhi, he said, “They are creating a ruckus and saying we are looted. We are ruined. Everything is destroyed. Nation is sold out,” adding that “they cannot bear the strength of the farmers”.

Alleging that the Opposition was spreading falsehoods, Chouhan said, “They are lying. They keep eating lies, drinking lies, waking up with lies, sleeping with lies and spreading lies. They have opened a shop of lies. Spreading the arms of lies. But today from this established stage, I want to say to my countrymen and farmers that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the interests of the farmers of India are completely safeguarded.”

He maintained that no major crops, including wheat, corn, rice, soybean and coarse cereals, face tariff concessions that could affect domestic producers, and that sensitive sectors such as dairy and poultry remain fully protected under the agreement.