Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched a blistering attack on Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi regarding his "selling Bharat Mata" remark. She asserted that it was the Congress-led UPA government that sold out the nation and aligned India's interests with Pakistan.
Responding to the Union Budget debate in the Lok Sabha, the Finance Minister stated, "It is the Congress that sold the government, the farmers, the poor, and the nation. You were the ones who linked India with Pakistan. As Kiren Rijiju rightly said—to this day, no one has been born who can sell India, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will never do such a thing."
Criticism Of Sharm El-Sheikh Joint Statement
Referencing the Sharm El-Sheikh Joint Statement, Sitharaman accused the UPA government of compromising India's stance on sovereignty and security during negotiations with Pakistan. "Those who wished to negotiate with Pakistan in Sharm El-Sheikh are now giving us suggestions on how to hold talks," she remarked.
The 2009 Sharm El-Sheikh agreement took place between then-Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani. During that meeting, held seven months after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Dr Singh had reiterated the necessity of bringing the perpetrators of the attacks to justice. Sitharaman further alleged that the Opposition leader had betrayed the interests of farmers and the poor, adding that those who once claimed Pakistan had no link to terrorism are now advising the current government on deals.
Allegations Regarding 2013 WTO Agreement
Nirmala Sitharaman questioned the integrity of the Opposition by highlighting a 2013 World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement made under the Congress regime. This deal concerned trade facilitation and public food stockpiling. She claimed the terms meant that from January 2017, the government would have been unable to procure produce from farmers or distribute supplies through ration shops.
The Finance Minister also alleged that India compromised on the "Peace Clause" during the WTO meeting in Bali, Indonesia, held during Dr Manmohan Singh's tenure. She noted that the 2013 agreement stood on two pillars: the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and Public Stockholding for food security. She concluded that the Congress not only sacrificed the benefits of the poor and farmers but the country as well.
Rahul Gandhi’s "Selling India" Allegation
Referring to the India-US trade deal, Rahul Gandhi had previously stated that the government should be ashamed, claiming, "You have sold India." He argued that for the first time in history, farmers are facing a crisis, and the government has cleared a path to suppress the poor.
Opposition Labels India-US Trade Deal "Absurd"
Describing the trade deal as "absurd," Rahul Gandhi pointed out that while the average tariff was initially 3 per cent, it has since surged to 18 per cent, a six-fold increase. He claimed that US imports would jump from USD 46 billion to USD 146 billion, arguing that the US has no commitment toward India while India is heavily committed to them.
Highlighting a specific provision, Gandhi mentioned that India is set to purchase USD 500 billion worth of energy and technology products from the US. He criticised the imbalance, stating that while India’s tariff has risen to 18 per cent , the US tariff has dropped from 16 per cent to zero, leaving India in an unfavorable position.