Sanjay Raut Criticizes India-US Trade Deal as Favoring Adani Group
Sanjay Raut, a Shiv Sena UBT MP, has raised serious concerns regarding the recent India-US trade agreement, alleging it primarily benefits Gautam Adani while compromising national interests and farmers' welfare. He emphasized the opposition's discontent, leading to a walkout in the Rajya Sabha. Raut's statements were echoed by Rahul Gandhi, who accused Prime Minister Modi of succumbing to US pressure. The trade deal, which reduces tariffs on Indian goods, has sparked significant debate about its implications for various sectors and the agricultural community. As the political discourse intensifies, both leaders vow to protest against the agreement, highlighting the growing tensions surrounding economic policies.
Feb 3, 2026, 17:18 IST
Concerns Raised Over India-US Trade Agreement
On Tuesday, Sanjay Raut, a member of the Shiv Sena UBT, asserted that the recently announced trade agreement between India and the United States primarily benefits Gautam Adani, the chairman of the Adani Group. He further claimed that this deal compromises national interests and the welfare of farmers. The agreement is expected to reduce American tariffs on Indian goods by 18%, which could benefit sectors such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, and engineering.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Raut noted that the entire opposition staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha, emphasizing that the agreement undermines both national and farmers' interests. He expressed his belief that this trade deal was orchestrated to protect Gautam Adani, vowing that protests would be organized from the streets to Parliament against it. Arvind Sawant echoed similar concerns, questioning the government's economic priorities in light of the central budget, stating, 'Have you seen your budget? It imposes zero percent duty. All goods are coming from the US. The US imposes a 10% tariff on Pakistan, while it previously charged us only 3%.'
In a social media post today, US President Donald Trump announced that both nations have agreed on a trade deal that will lower reciprocal tariffs from 25% to 18%. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to social media to declare that the tariff on 'Made in India' products will now be reduced to 18%, expressing gratitude to President Trump on behalf of India's 1.4 billion citizens for this significant announcement.
Earlier on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, accused Prime Minister Modi of compromising Indian farmers under US pressure. Speaking to the media outside Parliament, Gandhi remarked that Modi appears anxious, having signed the long-stalled India-US trade agreement the previous night. He suggested that Modi is under immense pressure, which could tarnish his image. 'The main issue is that our Prime Minister's reputation is at stake. The public should reflect on this. For the first time, the leader of the opposition was not allowed to speak on the President's address.'