PM Modi Positions India-US Trade Deal as Cornerstone of 'Decisive Era'
In his first parliamentary address following the landmark India-US trade agreement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi painted a panoramic vision of a nation at a pivotal juncture. Declaring the second quarter of the 21st century as "nirnayak" or decisive, he emphasized that "viksit Bharat" is firmly taking its place on the global stage. At this "aham padav (important juncture)", the Prime Minister asserted there is no looking back for India.
A Global Shift Towards India in Post-Covid Order
As the world transitions towards a new post-Covid global order, Modi highlighted that international attention is increasingly turning towards India, encapsulated in the phrase "jhukaav Bharat ki taraf hai." He articulated India's role as "vishwabandhu" and "vishwamitra"—a friendlier formulation than the earlier "vishwaguru" title, potentially signaling a calibrated diplomatic softening amid the uncertain global climate under Donald Trump's leadership.
Trade Deals Framed as Empowerment for Youth
Against this backdrop, the Prime Minister positioned the series of trade agreements India has recently secured—nine in total—as making the nation "future-ready." He attributed these accomplishments to India's perceived "sthirta (stability)" and "gati (agility)," qualities he claimed the world acknowledges. The most significant beneficiaries, Modi stressed, will be the country's youth, for whom global markets and opportunities have now opened wider. "Avsar hi avsar…" he proclaimed, framing the trade deal as empowerment for a young, dynamic nation.
Hard Lines Drawn: Opposition Accused of Constitutional Insult
Having established this vision of a self-assured India embraced by the world, Prime Minister Modi then shifted to confrontational rhetoric. He accused the Opposition of heaping "apman (insult)" on both the President and the Constitution by preventing him from speaking in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. According to Modi, this obstruction was driven purely by personal hatred towards him.
The Prime Minister further intensified his criticism by referencing a crude slogan from recent JNU student protests against the Supreme Court's bail denial in the Delhi riots case involving Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. He characterized the Opposition's agenda as fundamentally hateful and negative, drawing direct parallels to these contentious demonstrations.
Political Manoeuvre Amidst Governance Challenges
Analysts view Modi's parliamentary strategy as both political and calculated. By imprinting his personal authority on the political message, he effectively shifts focus from pressing governance issues where his administration faces scrutiny. These include:
- The Union Budget's perceived reluctance to implement bold economic reforms
- Ongoing negotiations with the United States regarding trade terms
- Broader policy challenges requiring parliamentary accountability
The spotlight on himself, therefore, appears strategically timed to deflect from these consequential matters.
Congress's Missed Parliamentary Opportunity
However, the opposition Congress party inadvertently facilitated the Prime Minister's narrative. By resorting to personal attacks—including labeling Modi as "compromised" and drawing unsubstantiated connections to Jeffrey Epstein—the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress reduced substantive policy discussion to rash, sweeping personal verdicts.
This approach represents a significant abdication of parliamentary responsibility. Rather than utilizing the institutional space and power that Parliament provides for rigorous debate on national issues, Congress handed the Prime Minister his key talking point on a platter: that their strategy revolves primarily around "abusing" Modi rather than engaging constructively.
The Bottom Line: A Strategic Victory for Modi
While Prime Minister Modi successfully articulated his vision and defended his position, the Opposition's performance over the last two parliamentary days represents a missed opportunity. Instead of holding the government accountable on substantive policy grounds, Congress allowed the discourse to be dominated by personal allegations, enabling Modi to frame himself as a victim of hate-driven obstructionism while positioning India's trade achievements as transformative for the nation's youth in this decisive global era.
