The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has vehemently countered Rahul Gandhi’s allegations in the Lok Sabha, labeling his claims about the government’s dealings with the United States as a “blatant lie.” The BJP portrayed Gandhi as a leader driven by negativity and hostility, willing to jeopardize national interests to target the ruling coalition.

Nirmala Sitharaman’s Rebuttal

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman sharply criticized Gandhi, asserting that it was the previous Congress administration that undermined India’s interests, particularly in its engagement with international bodies like the World Trade Organization (WTO).

She highlighted that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government compromised the interests of farmers during the Bali negotiations on agriculture and consented to trade facilitation agreements without adequately safeguarding India’s position. Sitharaman further referenced the Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Statement, accusing former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government of weakening India’s stance on issues of sovereignty and security regarding Pakistan.

Kiren Rijiju’s Challenge

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju responded critically to Gandhi’s accusations, asserting that no one, including Gandhi, has the right to make such allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He praised Modi as the country’s strongest leader and challenged Gandhi to substantiate his claims. Rijiju suggested the possibility of a privilege motion against Gandhi for what he termed false allegations, urging him to provide credible evidence to support his serious claims. “You are making wild allegations. Please make substantive points,” he stated.

BJP Undermines Gandhi’s Narrative

Amid this heated exchange, the BJP drew encouragement from a “fact-sheet” published by the Trump administration, which indicated that India had secured terms more favorable than those initially outlined in the bilateral statement. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav countered Gandhi’s assertion that the deal compromised data ownership, affirming that ownership is secured under a robust legal framework.

Anurag Thakur Speaks Out

Former Minister Anurag Thakur added to the discussions in Lok Sabha, suggesting that successive electoral defeats had driven Gandhi to display animosity towards key democratic structures, including the Speaker and constitutional institutions. Thakur accused Gandhi of receiving guidance from both “visible and invisible” foreign entities working against Indian interests. He responded to Gandhi’s claims of “vote theft,” suggesting that constituents have stopped supporting corrupt leaders instead.

BJP’s Detailed Rebuttal

BJP chief spokesperson Anil Baluni offered a detailed refutation of Gandhi’s remarks, accusing him of misquoting and misinterpreting key documents, including the budget and agreements with the United States, to mislead both Parliament and the public. Baluni criticized Gandhi for prioritizing theatrics over factual discourse, arguing that such misrepresentation harms democratic dialogue and disrespects the intelligence of Indian citizens.

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