At a farmers’ rally in Barnala, Rahul Gandhi claimed the India-U.S. interim trade deal was signed under American pressure, sparking political backlash.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of yielding to pressure from the United States while finalising the recently announced interim trade agreement between the two countries.

Addressing a farmers’ gathering in Barnala, Punjab, Gandhi alleged that the deal was signed under external influence. He linked his charge to references in the so-called Jeffrey Epstein files naming certain Indian figures, as well as an ongoing U.S. legal case involving industrialist Gautam Adani. The Congress MP did not provide evidence to substantiate these claims.

The interim trade pact, announced on February 6, reduces select tariffs on both sides and includes a commitment for India to purchase goods worth $500 billion from the United States over five years. The agreement comes amid ongoing differences over solar tariffs and market access.

At the rally, Gandhi also called for unity within the Congress ahead of upcoming Punjab elections, positioning the trade deal as a matter affecting farmers and domestic industry. His remarks drew applause from party supporters present, while BJP leaders and sympathisers dismissed the allegations as politically motivated.

The episode underscores how foreign trade agreements are increasingly becoming electoral talking points. For Punjab’s agrarian community, concerns over market access and pricing remain central, making trade policy a sensitive issue in the state’s political discourse.