Goyal Intensifies Attack on Rahul Gandhi Over Trade Deal Concerns
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday escalated his criticism of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi regarding the India-US trade agreement, asserting that Gandhi is "exposing himself with his own foolishness." The minister reiterated the government's position on the trade pact, which concluded after nearly a year of negotiations, as the political dispute over the issue persisted.
Goyal accused the opposition leader of attempting to undermine India's economic progress through negative politics. He stated, "The Lok Sabha LoP is trying to sabotage India's growth story with his politics of negativity." The minister emphasized that he countered what he termed Gandhi's "fearmongering" by presenting factual data about the trade deal.
Goyal's Detailed Rebuttal on Social Media
In a comprehensive post on X, Goyal outlined three key points to challenge Gandhi's assertions:
- Textile Market Potential: "Our nine Free Trade Agreements covering 38 developed countries have opened a potential textile market worth Rs 45 lakh crore. India currently exports Rs 4 lakh crore in textiles. Consider the growth potential, which could generate lakhs of jobs for young men and women!"
- Cotton Demand Analysis: "Rahul is simultaneously attacking textile exporters and attempting to frighten Indian farmers by suggesting their cotton demand will decline. He appears unaware that US cotton production is relatively small, and after domestic consumption, US exports of cotton and yarn total only $6 billion. He also overlooks that Bangladesh imports $2.7 billion worth of cotton from India, a practice they must continue since the US lacks surplus cotton. Consequently, with substantial growth potential in our textile sector, demand for Indian cotton will consistently rise, boosting farmer incomes."
- Historical Policy Context: "Incidentally, even during your family's tenure leading the Congress government, the Foreign Trade Policy and SEZ Act [rule 27(1)] always permitted duty-free import of raw materials, including cotton, for producing export goods. Therefore, when Rahul Gandhi criticizes 'zero-duty import for export,' he is attacking policies initiated by his own party! What an ignorant Leader of Opposition. No wonder he faces repeated electoral defeats."
Goyal's Final Clarification and Gandhi's Counterattack
Further elaborating on the agreement, Goyal added, "Rahul ji, both Indian farmers and textile workers stand to gain significantly from the US trade deal and other FTAs negotiated by the NDA government... and the people of India trust Prime Minister Modi. Your bundle of lies will fail."
Earlier that day, Rahul Gandhi had intensified his criticism of the recently finalized trade deal with Washington, contending that the agreement would adversely affect India's cotton farmers and textile exporters. In his own X post, he alleged that the government had fallen into a "trap" that threatens millions of families with unemployment.
Gandhi explained, "18% Tariff versus 0% – Let me clarify how the Prime Minister, an expert at deception, and his Cabinet are creating confusion. They are misleading the country's cotton farmers and textile exporters through the India-US trade deal." He recounted raising in Parliament the issue of special concessions granted to Bangladesh while Indian garments faced an 18% tariff in the US market, to which a minister reportedly responded, "If we want the same benefit, we'll have to import cotton from the US."
The ongoing debate highlights the deepening political rift over international trade policies, with both sides presenting contrasting narratives about the economic implications for key sectors like agriculture and textiles.
