Rahul Gandhi warns India-US trade deal will hurt small industries and jobs

Rahul Gandhi criticised PM Narendra Modi over the India-US trade deal, alleging it will harm small industries, farmers and workers. At a rally in Murshidabad, he also accused the Trinamool Congress of corruption and helping BJP gain ground in Bengal

Kolkata: Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over India and the United States agreeing on a trade deal.

At his third election rally in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, Gandhi said the deal will lead to closure of small and mid-sized industries and cause job losses in India.

---

He alleged that PM Modi’s control is in Donald Trump’s hands, claiming that the India-US trade deal would harm workers, farmers and small traders across the country, including Bengal.

Rahul Gandhi further alleged that PM Modi has opened up the country’s agriculture sector to the United States, allowing it to sell its farm produce in India.

He said India’s agricultural sector would be devastated, adding that the Modi government has handed over India’s energy security to Washington and compromised national data security.

Claiming that the Modi government has committed to buying goods worth Rs 9.5 lakh crore from the United States, Gandhi said, “If American goods enter India like a tsunami, then our country’s small and medium-scale factories will close down. This will cause double loss for Bengal since Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already closed down industries in the state.”

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi also targeted the Mamata Banerjee government in Bengal, saying it is being run by Trinamool’s syndicate.

He alleged that people do not enjoy benefits as they have to pay money to Trinamool Congress’s goons to get things done.

He said a dictatorship is prevailing in Bengal and accused Trinamool Congress of being as corrupt as the BJP at the Centre.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi accused the Trinamool Congress of helping the BJP gain ground in West Bengal while criticising its government over charges of corruption and violence.

Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, slammed the Trinamool for running syndicates and the “goon tax” system.

“Who is giving a chance to the BJP in Bengal? Who is helping the party? The Trinamool Congress is giving it. BJP does not give money to Bengal. The BJP did not pay two lakh crore rupees to Bengal. It cut funds for MGNREGA and did not sanction any new projects for Bengal in the Union budget. The BJP attacked democracy through SIR. However, Trinamool Congress is also busy with its work; it is not working for Bengal,” he said.

On the corruption charges against the Trinamool Congress government, Gandhi said: “If Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is corrupt, then Trinamool Congress is no less in the race for corruption. Lakhs of rupees were not returned following the Saradha chit fund scam and the Rose Valley chit fund scam. Coal smuggling scam, illegal mining and goon tax from transporters and collectors are rampant here. People of Bengal do not benefit here. Only Trinamool’s syndicate reaps the benefits, gets money round the clock.”

The Congress leader also slammed the Trinamool for making false promises and unleashing a reign of terror on people.