Rahul Gandhi Alleges US Pressure On PM Over Trade Deal

Kannur: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that US President Donald Trump had used the 'Epstein files' to threaten Prime Minister Narendra Modi into signing a trade deal that would “sacrifice” Indian farmers. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha was speaking at a farmers’ convention in Peravoor, Kannur district.

He said the simple fact that farmers are the foundation of India is not understood by the government. He said lengthy lectures were delivered about IT and other sectors, but nothing could be built without strengthening the foundation.

“If you do not respect the foundation, nothing can be built. The person who builds the foundation does not have respect or protection. We eat food every day but do not remember who puts it on our table,” he said. Gandhi alleged that the Prime Minister had signed a deal with the US President that was “like digging the foundation”.

“Indian farmers are small farmers with low levels of mechanisation. American farmers have massive farms and high levels of mechanisation. It is a criminal act to allow access to Indian agriculture markets for American farmers,” he said.

He claimed that no previous prime minister would have allowed American farmers to sell products such as soybeans, corn and fruits in India.

“It is going to destroy the foundation that we have built carefully. The whole Green and White Revolutions happened because we believed that we needed a foundation built in agriculture,” he said. Gandhi said the India-US deal had been stalled for four months due to disagreements over agriculture.

“The Indian government did not want to open agriculture to American companies. I checked with government officials multiple times. Nothing was moving, and the US President was threatening the Prime Minister,” he alleged.

He further claimed that he was not allowed to speak in Parliament after the President’s address because he intended to raise two issues that had trapped the Prime Minister of India.

“The first was about 3.5 million Epstein files that have not yet been released. Please understand they are held secret by the US government. These files have information about the Prime Minister of India,” he alleged.

The union government had rejected references to PM Modi in the latest Jeffrey Epstein case files, describing it as "little more than trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal that deserves to be dismissed with the utmost contempt". Gandhi said the information released about Union Minister Hardeep Puri and Anil Ambani is targeted at the Prime Minister of India.

“The second weapon held to the head of the Prime Minister of India is the Adani case in America. Adani is not a normal company. Adani is the financial infrastructure of the BJP and the Prime Minister of India,” he claimed. Gandhi said that the US has registered a case against Adani, and he cannot leave the country today.

“The threat to the Prime Minister is very clear. If you do not do what we want, we will release to everybody, your and the BJP’s entire financial architecture,” the Leader of Opposition said.

He said that these are the two reasons why the Prime Minister wants to destroy the foundation of India. “Indian farmers are being sacrificed so that the Prime Minister can protect himself and the financial foundation of the BJP,” Gandhi alleged.

He said the Congress would not allow farmers of India and Kerala to be sacrificed. Referring to Kerala, Gandhi said a manifesto was being prepared to incorporate public issues, and that any future UDF government should remember that its foundation lay with farmers and labourers.

“Instead of Kerala’s farmers coming to the government with problems, the government should go to farmers as a service provider. Farmers need support prices, cold chains and storage facilities. They need protection in difficult times,” he said.

Gandhi, a former MP from Wayanad, said he had witnessed the tragedy of man-animal conflict in the region and described it as a complex issue that could be resolved.

“The next government is going to look into this problem with sensitivity and with a technological mindset. We are going to assemble the best people to develop a solution for the problem. We will try our best to reduce this problem,” he said.

Gandhi heard the concerns of various farmers and people who suffered from wild animal attacks during the convention. Laisamma Alias, wife of ward-winning farmer Ambattu Alias, who died by suicide allegedly due to debt a few weeks ago, submitted a petition to Gandhi. He also met Ambarish of Peravoor, a person with Down syndrome who farms vegetables.

KPCC president Sunny Joseph, KC Venugopal MP, K Sudakaran MP, AICC leader Deepa Dasmunsi, Shafi Parambil MP and Sajeev Joseph MLA also attended the convention.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi laid the foundation stone for 100 houses to be constructed by the party for victims of the 2024 landslide here. Congress is constructing 100 houses, each measuring 1,100 sq ft and 8 cents of land. He assured the affected families that he and his family would always stand with those who had lost everything in the tragedy.

He recalled witnessing two major landslides and how people responded to them. “You have lost a lot, but you have not lost your spirit. You never lost your courage. Most importantly, you did not lose your compassion,” Gandhi said.

Rahul said that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had pointed out alleged delays in the process of constructing houses for the victims. “There were complexities related to permissions, land and other issues. Now, I hope it will be completed soon,” he said.

He described the ceremony as a "symbol and a message" to the affected families. “In this process of recovery and healing, we are with you. We will stand with you whenever you need us,” he said.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said she had witnessed the hardship of people who lost everything, including their families. She mentioned Anyan and Hanni, who lost their farms and family members in the landslide.

“We have tried our best to raise your voice in Parliament again and again. All our MPs met the Home Minister to demand that it be declared a national disaster. We wrote to the Prime Minister and held protests outside Parliament,” she said. She said what struck her most after the tragedy was the courage of the people.

“The way you all stood together, no matter what religion or section you belong to, you gave love and courage when it mattered most,” she said.

She said she was not the MP when the tragedy struck, but had since become a daughter, sister and part of the family. Vadra said all political parties had contributed to the rehabilitation process.

As the people's struggle continues, the party would stand with them to overcome it, she added. Both leaders also distributed Rs 5 lakh each to 40 people who lost their shops in the landslide. Senior Congress and UDF leaders were present at the event.

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