In a fiery outburst, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has taken aim at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his sharp criticism of the India-US trade deal. Speaking at an event in Gaya on Sunday, Manjhi dismissed Gandhi’s claims that the agreement betrays Indian farmers as utterly misguided.
Manjhi, the president of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), didn’t hold back. ‘Rahul Gandhi’s head is upside down,’ he quipped, reacting to questions from the media about Gandhi’s recent Lok Sabha remarks labeling the deal a sellout to American interests.
The central minister emphasized that the trade pact stands to benefit 95 percent of India’s population, particularly farmers who will gain access to vast new markets. ‘This deal links the future of crores of farmers,’ Manjhi asserted. He accused the opposition of cherry-picking minor issues affecting just 5 percent of cases to derail a overwhelmingly positive agreement.
‘If 95 percent gain, why fixate on the tiny 5 percent hiccups? That’s just politics,’ Manjhi said, urging a balanced view. He pointed out that some transactional challenges are inevitable in any large-scale deal but shouldn’t overshadow the broader advantages like boosted exports and economic growth.
Rahul Gandhi has been vocal in Parliament, calling the deal a ‘betrayal of farmers’ and warning of job losses and market flooding by US goods. Manjhi countered that such rhetoric ignores the deal’s potential to empower smallholders through better pricing and global competitiveness.
This exchange underscores deepening political divides over economic policies ahead of key legislative sessions. As debates intensify, Manjhi’s defense highlights the government’s confidence in the pact’s long-term wins for India’s agrarian economy.