'Namaste Trump Wins Over Howdy Modi': Congress Targets Govt Over India-US Trade Deal

Last Updated:February 07, 2026, 13:35 IST

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, citing the recently issued United States-India Joint Statement, claimed that the agreement lacks substantive details and favours Washington.

The Congress on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Modi government over the India–US interim trade framework, alleging that diplomatic optics have taken precedence over India’s national and economic interests.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, citing the recently issued United States-India Joint Statement, claimed that the agreement lacks substantive details and favours Washington.

Using a pointed political phrase, Ramesh said, “Namaste Trump jeete, Howdy Modi haare," arguing that the absence of clarity masks an arrangement skewed against India.

While the government has projected the interim trade understanding as a confidence-building measure toward a broader free trade agreement, the Congress said the framework appears to prioritise market access for US agriculture and energy sectors, offering little assurance to India in return.

Ramesh contended that the document provides no clear gains for services, labour mobility or tariff relief, raising concerns that India could become more trade-dependent without securing reciprocal benefits.

According to Ramesh, the joint statement points to five major implications. He alleged that India could be pressured to scale down Russian oil imports or face punitive tariffs of up to 25 per cent, potentially undermining energy security and strategic autonomy.

He also warned that lowering or removing duties on US agricultural imports would place Indian farmers at a disadvantage against heavily subsidised American producers.

Ramesh further claimed that India’s imports from the US could rise sharply, turning a long-standing trade surplus into a deficit.

He also flagged the absence of safeguards for India’s IT and services sector, while suggesting that Indian goods exports could face higher duties, weakening domestic manufacturing competitiveness.

Echoing these concerns, AAP MP Sanjay Singh described the agreement as an “immense betrayal" of Indian farmers.

He warned that opening agricultural markets to the US could severely impact rural livelihoods and accused the government of compromising national interests by reducing dependence on cheaper Russian oil under external pressure.

Congress leader Pawan Khera described the framework of the India-US trade deal as a “humiliating failure", alleging that New Delhi had yielded to American pressure by opening up its agricultural market and curbing imports of Russian oil.

Reacting to the India–US joint statement, which refers to India importing goods worth $500 billion, Khera warned that the arrangement could significantly widen the country’s trade deficit with the United States.

In a post on X, Khera drew a film reference to criticise the government’s handling of the deal.

“There is a famous line from Deewaar—‘Main aaj bhi phenke hue paise nahi uthata’. Unfortunately, this government does. Tariffs that were earlier around 3 per cent have now gone up to 18 per cent, and this is being celebrated as an achievement. In reality, it is a humiliating failure being sold to the public," he said.

Khera alleged that India had agreed to open its agricultural sector under US pressure, a move he said would harm Indian farmers while benefiting American producers.

He also claimed that India had been compelled to stop importing oil from Russia and shift to purchasing US oil, calling it a decision driven by the White House rather than national interest.

News politics 'Namaste Trump Wins Over Howdy Modi': Congress Targets Govt Over India-US Trade Deal

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