Indo-U.S. trade deal, your name figuring in Epstein files are shameful, not the peaceful protests, Rahul Gandhi tells Modi

Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accusing the Congress of resorting to “shameful” nangi rajneeti (naked politics), Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that the Indo-U.S. trade agreement in which the country was sold out “was shameful, not the non-violent peaceful protests” by Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi.

“Narendra Modi ji, listen carefully — non-violence and peaceful protest are the foundation of democracy. This is the path shown by Gandhiji and Bhagat Singh: why are you so afraid of it? And you talk about shame? Let me tell you what is shameful. The trade deal you signed with America, in which you sold out the country, that is shameful,” Mr. Gandhi said in a video, posted on his X handle.

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The trade deal handed over “our country’s data, destroyed the farmers and ruined the textile industry,” Mr. Gandhi said. The Congress leader, addressing the workers of the BJP-RSS said “[Late Jeffrey] Epstein, who was a paedophile, [and] your name, your minister’s name and your friend’s name appear in his files and mails. This is a matter of shame,” the Opposition leader said.

“The whole country knows that the case going on against [Gautam] Adani in America has taken away your sleep because it is a case against the BJP and your financial architecture. That is shameful,” Mr. Gandhi said, adding that the Prime Minister can do what he thinks is appropriate to “save yourself and your friends”.

The Congress leader said that his party protects the farmers, workers, MSMEs and India’s data. He ended his video with a message to Congress workers on protecting the nation and fighting for the Constitution. “My dear lion-hearted Congress workers, we must not be afraid. For the protection of India, we will do whatever is necessary, we will not step back an inch,” he told them.

Also Read | U.S. trade deal compromises India’s energy and data security, farmers’ future: Rahul Gandhi

Mr. Gandhi’s video was released even as Delhi Police carried out more arrests of IYC workers for their “shirtless protests” from Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh and elsewhere. Condemning the arrests and detention of its youth wing leaders, the party demanded that their “harassment” must stop.

Party veteran Margaret Alva, who had taken a divergent view on Sunday, saying that “at international events, there has to be dignity, discipline a sense of responsibility”, clarified on Monday that her comments made in Karnataka are personal.

Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal strongly condemned the detention of IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib and called the detentions illegal.

Also Read | India-U.S. deal: Is Congress with India’s interest or against it, asks BJP after Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Modi

“This government forgets that protests are the heart of democracy, and not a crime. What our IYC workers did was to bravely expose how the PM is compromised. This was done in a peaceful manner, without any instigation of violence. This detention is completely illegal. We demand that they all be released immediately and all charges be dropped,” Mr. Venugopal said in a post on X.

Seven MPs, including Sasikanth Senthil, accused the Delhi Police of “harassing” even the family members of Youth Congress workers. “We stand firmly with our IYC members who showed courage and conviction. What is truly shameful is that the Modi government has unleashed its entire machinery to suppress them,” Mr. Senthil alleged.