PM Modi 'surrendered' before Trump; farmers' interests, energy security sacrificed: Cong

New Delhi, Feb 16 (PTI) The Congress on Monday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "surrendered" before US President Donald Trump in agreeing to the India-US interim trade deal, which, it claimed, will "devastate" the livelihoods of crores of farmers across states and sacrifice India’s energy security, digital sovereignty and economic self-reliance.

Slamming the Centre, Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala said trade agreements should not become a path to slavery by "sacrificing a country's sovereignty", and asserted that national interest cannot be mortgaged under the guise of a trade pact.

He also demanded answers from the prime minister on this.

Terming the Indo-US interim trade deal a "one-sided and unequal agreement", Surjewala said such deals must be based on parity and mutual public interest, and not become instruments that compromise the sovereignty or livelihoods of millions.

He also claimed that 1.44 billion Indians would not accept any arrangement that weakens the country’s self-reliance.

"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 deals," Surjewala said at a press conference.

Tagging Surjewala's statement, Congress general secretary in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh, said the former explained how this trade deal will "devastate" the livelihoods of millions of farmers across states.

"The prime minister has completely surrendered before President Trump - just as he did on May 10, 2025, when he abruptly and unexpectedly halted Operation Sindoor," Ramesh said on X.

Surjewala alleged at the presser that through the US-India trade agreement, the Modi government has sacrificed the interests of India's farmers and farms.

"India's energy security was openly compromised. 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,” he claimed.

People are asking whether it is a "mazboot sarkaar" (strong government) or "majboor sarkaar" (compelled government), an "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" or "America-nirbhar Bharat", he claimed.

Surjewala also said that importing American agricultural and food products into India's agricultural market is a "direct attack" on farmers' livelihoods.

"In the very first point of the February 6 Framework Agreement of the US-India trade deal, India agreed that it would open its market to US agricultural and food products without any import duty," he said.

The proposed import of products such as Dried Distillers’ Grain (DDG) or processed maize, sorghum, soybean oil and cotton would adversely impact the domestic producers and have a direct effect on the country’s biodiversity and seed purity, the Congress leader said.

Noting that India produces about 43 million metric tonnes of maize annually, compared to the United States’ 425 million metric tonnes, he asked how Indian farmers would compete if duty-free imports were allowed.

“Has the Modi government opened the doors for GM Crops in India through the back door,” he asked.

Surjewala also said that Bangladesh, which currently buys 50 per cent of its cotton from India, will now stop those imports and source it from the US, calling it a “double whammy” for Indian cotton farmers.

Point 5 of the trade agreement clearly states that, considering America's concerns, India will remove its non-tariff trade barriers, he said.

"America gives its farmers an annual subsidy of about Rs 1.45 lakh crore. In contrast, in India, a subsidy of Rs 6,000 is given per farmer family, but Rs 25,000 is taken back through expensive diesel, fertilisers, electricity, and pesticides.

"Despite this, Narendra Modi made an agreement with America that we will reduce farmers' subsidies and approve GM crops," Surjewala claimed.

The Modi government has put India’s interests at stake in the trade deal with America, he alleged.

Three issues are most critical in this (deal) – agriculture, energy security and trade terms, he said.

Surjewala also alleged that the deal essentially amounted to "playing with India's energy security".

"On February 6, US President Trump wrote in the penalty tariff order: India has promised the United States that it will not buy crude oil from Russia. Trump also wrote: The United States will monitor whether India buys crude oil from Russia, directly or indirectly.

"If this happens, the penalty will be reimposed. In the fact-sheet issued by the US president on February 9, the statement that India has promised not to buy crude oil from Russia was repeated," Surjewala said.

Between February 2022 and January 2026, India imported crude oil worth Rs 15.24 lakh crore from Russia and saved approximately Rs 1.81 lakh crore due to lower prices, he claimed.

"Now, on Trump's insistence, the Modi government will buy crude oil from the US and Venezuela, but the rates will not be cheap. In such a situation, my direct question is – isn't this playing with India's self-reliance?” Surjewala asked.

He said the main question is whether the trade agreement is based on equality or coercion.

"So, why is the Modi government agreeing to it? The country demands answers," Surjewala said. PTI ASK/SKC ARI