New Delhi, February 4 (NationPress) The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, launched a forceful critique against the Central government during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address on Wednesday.

He accused the government of jeopardizing national interests with the newly announced India-US trade deal, cautioning that it could place Indian farmers in a position of unfair rivalry against their American counterparts, severely jeopardizing their livelihoods.

Kharge emphasized that this deal, which has been promoted by US President Donald Trump and recognized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, threatens Indian agriculture by potentially exposing local markets to American products while simultaneously reducing tariffs.

"You are setting Indian farmers up for competition with American farmers, and this will severely impact them," he warned, foreseeing a revival of farmer protests, stating, "The farmers' revolution will occur once more, and the government will have to retract these measures."

Expressing concerns over India's international standing, Kharge questioned, "When our sovereignty is under threat, and we are under Trump's influence, what is our stance in the global arena?"

The Congress President labeled the Union government's position as untenable, stating, "Even if the advocacy is commendable, the case is so weak that it cannot be defended successfully."

He criticized the President's address for neglecting crucial issues, outlining several significant topics he intended to address in the House, including social justice, social harmony, attacks on constitutional institutions, economic challenges, and the difficulties faced by farmers and laborers.

Focusing on social justice, Kharge expressed concern regarding its decline under the current Modi-led Union government.

He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of viewing women merely as a vote bank, questioning why the government has not implemented reservations for women in legislative bodies despite multiple promises.

Kharge noted that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the BJP's ideological parent, has not had a female leader in years, highlighting what he perceives as a profound disregard for gender equality.

His remarks primarily centered on the tensions in Parliament regarding the India-US trade agreement, which was announced via social media platform Truth Social by President Trump after a phone call with PM Modi.

The trade deal is reported to entail US tariff reductions on Indian goods from 25% to 18%, commitments from India to eliminate barriers on US products, increased purchases of American energy and agricultural goods, and a pivot away from Russian oil.

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal previously defended the trade agreement in both Houses of Parliament, asserting that it safeguards India's agricultural and dairy sectors while promising further negotiations to finalize the details.

Kharge's statements reflect broader concerns over economic sovereignty, rural distress, and social equity, setting the tone for potential clashes during the Budget session.