Following several weeks of Parliamentary protest at his previous comments mentioning former Army Chief General (Retd.) In his unpublished memoir, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi presented his speech to the Lower House once again, this time switching the subject to the proposed India-US trade deal.
Raising objections on behalf of the Opposition, the leader of the Congress cast doubts on the conditions and the general consequences of the agreement now being negotiated between New Delhi and Washington. Gandhi pointed out that although India attaches great importance to its strategic relationship with the United States, any trade relationships should protect the interests of the nation and be fair to the Indian business, farmers and workers.
Gandhi delivered an acute message to the former US President Donald Trump, by saying that India must be afforded the status of an equal partner in the negotiation. Treat us like equals he claimed and emphasized that India is a sovereign country with its own economic needs and domestic sensitivities. He held that any trade agreements that favoured one side too much or at the expense of the livelihood of the vulnerable parts of the society should not be adopted.
Gandhi also demanded increased openness on the government on the specifics of the deal since it shouldn’t come as a surprise to Parliament and other stakeholders. He gave a warning that poor scrutiny would have long term economic effects.
The comments are made against the backdrop of intensified politics concerning the India foreign policy posture and trade policies. Although the government has argued that the proposed deal would ensure that bilateral relations would enhance the growth of the economy, the Opposition has demanded that the negotiations are being held on fair and win-win terms.
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