“Narendra Modi Has Completely Surrendered To Donald Trump,” Says Congress
The Congress on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the Narendra Modi government over the interim India–United States trade framework, accusing the Prime Minister of “complete surrender” to U.S. President Donald Trump and alleging that India’s economic sovereignty and national interest have been compromised.
The sharpest criticism came through an official Instagram post by the Indian National Congress (INC), which the party projected as the clearest political statement on the deal so far.
The post claimed that the removal of punitive U.S. tariffs on India had come at the cost of New Delhi accepting Washington’s conditions on Russian oil imports and opening Indian markets to American products.
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In its Instagram post on Sunday, the Congress alleged that India has bowed to U.S. pressure on multiple fronts. The party said that President Trump had first imposed a 25% punitive tariff on India for purchasing discounted Russian crude oil, and while that tariff has now been withdrawn, it came with strict conditions.
“Trump makes it clear — India will stop buying oil from Russia and buy oil from America instead. Trump openly warns India: we are watching you. If you buy Russian oil again, the tariff will come back immediately,” the post said.
View this post on Instagram.
“This is no diplomacy. This is submission,” the post declared, adding that “dignity and national interest have been placed at Trump’s feet.”
The Congress further alleged that the long-term consequences of these decisions would be borne by the country for years to come, claiming that “the damage Modi is inflicting today will not end today.”
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Senior Congress leaders echoed the party’s social media charge with detailed criticism of the interim trade framework.
Former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said the joint statement released after the India–U.S. talks was opaque and deeply unequal.
“One thing is clear: the framework deal is heavily tilted in favour of the U.S., and the asymmetry is obvious,” he said in a post on X. Questioning the celebratory tone of the government, he asked, “How is this ‘framework for an Interim Agreement’ a matter of celebration?”
Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh flagged the White House executive order accompanying the deal, which states that the U.S. will “monitor” whether India imports crude oil from Russia directly or indirectly.
“If the U.S. decides India has imported Russian oil, the extra 25% tariff penalty is back. This is truly extraordinary. And the Modi government has accepted it,” Mr Ramesh said.
Coining a slogan, he added, “Naam Narendra, Kaam Surrender.”
Congress Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari, tagging President Trump in a post, questioned whether India had formally agreed to stop buying Russian oil altogether. “And this adds insult to injury,” he said.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Congress leader Pawan Khera said the agreement could not even be described as a deal.
“A deal is among equals. You sit across the table and negotiate. A deal cannot be with a gun held to your head,” he said.
“This is blackmail. This is surrender,” Mr Khera stated, alleging that India would soon become a dumping ground for American agricultural and industrial products, harming farmers and small businesses.
Calling it a “betrayal,” he said the agreement went against everything India had stood for over the past 75 years.
Raising serious concerns about agriculture, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala said the livelihoods of nearly 72 crore farmers and farm labourers were being put at stake.
He pointed out that the first clause of the framework agreement states that India will eliminate tariffs on U.S. food and agricultural products.
“This means American corn, soya bean, jowar, nuts like almonds and walnuts, and fresh and processed fruits will flood Indian markets,” he said, warning that domestic farmers would be devastated.
Mr Surjewala also drew attention to the phrase “additional products” in the agreement, calling it “surreptitious and dangerous.”
“What are these additional products? Wheat? Pulses? Milk? Cheese? Dairy products?” he asked, noting that no clarity had been provided by the government.
While the BJP has dismissed the Congress’s criticism as politically motivated and anti-growth, the opposition has signalled that the Indo-U.S. interim trade deal, especially the clauses related to agriculture and Russian oil monitoring, will remain a major political flashpoint in the days ahead.
