Rahul Gandhi slams PM Modi on India-US trade deal – 'Blood and sweat of farmers sold out' | Watch Video

Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Tuesday, alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has buckled under US pressure to finalise a trade deal and has 'sold out' the hard work of Indian farmers through the agreement.

Addressing reporters in the Parliament House complex after he was not allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha as he insisted on quoting from an article that cited former Army chief MM Naravane's unpublished "memoir", Rahul Gandhi said it is for the first time in history that the Leader of Opposition has not been allowed to speak on the president's address.

"We need to understand why a trade deal stuck for about four months was suddenly finalised last evening," Gandhi said, adding that "there was huge pressure on Prime Minister Modi".

Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Modi "has been compromised" and that Indian farmers must understand their hard work, as well as their blood and sweat, has been "sold out" through the India-US trade deal. He also said the entire country had been "sold out".

There was no immediate reaction from the BJP or the government.

Rahul Gandhi also claimed that it was for the first time, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) was not allowed to speak on the President's speech.

“PM Narendra Modi ji has sold your hard work in this trade deal because he is compromised. He has sold the country. Narendra Modi ji is scared because those who shaped his image are now breaking this image,” Gandhi said.

Gandhi also alleged that the Epstein Files contain even more than the US has not yet released. "There is pressure due to that as well. These are the two pressure points. The country should understand this," Gandhi said.

Earlier, Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day after repeated adjournments on Tuesday amid protests and sloganeering by opposition members over the recently announced India-US trade deal. At least eight Congress Members of Parliament (MPs) have been suspended for ‘untuly’ behaviour.

(With agency inputs)