Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi Addressing the “Mazdoor Kissan Maha Rally” in Barnala, Punjab, on February 28, 2026. Photo Credit: X/@RahulGandhi
Congress leader and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday (February 28, 2026) took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of compromising the country’s interests by signing the India-U.S. trade deal under pressure. He termed the agreement as “a death warrant” for farmers and small and medium businesses.He was addressing the Mazdoor Kissan Maha Rally in Punjab’s Barnala, organised to protest the Centre’s decision to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the signing of a trade deal with the United States. Mr. Gandhi also accused the Prime Minister of compromising the country’s interests by handing over the ‘data’ resource and ‘energy security’ to the U.S.Pointing out that the deal had remained stalled for four months due to disagreements over the opening of the agriculture sector, Mr. Gandhi asked, “Why did the Prime Minister accomplish in just 15 minutes what he had left unaddressed for four months? What was the pressure under which he signed a death warrant for our country, our farmers, our small and medium scale industries and gave away our data?”He further alleged, “There are about 35 lakh ‘Epstein files’ in the U.S. Names of Anil Ambani and Hardeep Puri have been brought out to intimidate the PM. There are more files in which the truth about Narendra Modi lies. The U.S. and Donald Trump are intimidating our PM through the ‘Epstein files’, saying if you (PM) don’t sign, then we will open it. Apart from this, the BJP has put its entire financial system in ‘Adnani ji’s company’ during the last 10-15 years, which is later used in politics; there are thousands of shell companies. Now the U.S. has filed a criminal case against Adani. They have grabbed PM’s neck—with the Epstein files and the criminal case on Adani.”Referring to the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, Mr. Gandhi said the real underlying geopolitical struggle is between China and the United States. He said, “If the U.S has to fight China, then it needs India’s data. Without India’s data, the U.S. can’t fight China. We have crores of people. There are talks about AI, but without data, it is useless. AI means data, and who has the data? It’s with India. In the U.S. trade deal, it'’ written in small lines that Narendra Modi has handed over India’s complete data to the U.S., which can now keep India’s data anywhere.”Mr. Gandhi also alleged that for the first time, the agricultural sector has been opened to the U.S., which will severely impact the country’s farmers. “I am speaking with responsibility. A storm is about to come. When U.S. apples, walnuts, almonds, pulses, cotton, and soybeans enter the Indian market, then the storm will come.”He further claimed that India had guaranteed annual purchases worth ₹9 lakh crore from the U.S. “If this happens, then what will happen to our small and medium-scale industry sector?” he asked.He alleged that the country’s energy security was at risk, asserting that the Prime Minister had conveyed to the United States that India was prepared to purchase oil from any source as directed by the U.S. Mr. Gandhi delivered a message to the party’s State unit ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Emphasising unity, he said no individual is bigger than the party. “A single player never wins a game; it takes an entire team. Be a team player or we will make you sit in reserves,” he said. Published - February 28, 2026 03:11 pm IST
