Rahul Gandhi accused the government of cheating cotton farmers and textile exporters through the India-US trade deal, claiming it favours Bangladesh and harms domestic sectors. Textile Minister Giriraj Singh rejected the charge, saying India secured a balanced agreement
Published Date – 14 February 2026, 08:41 PM
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused the government of cheating cotton farmers and textile exporters in the country over the India-US interim trade deal and said the agreement is likely to inflict deep damage on both sectors.
He also claimed that the trade deal, which now favours Bangladesh through zero per cent tariffs, will either finish the textile sector or cotton farming or both, and the entire country knows this.
In a post on X, he said the government has neither protected the interests of cotton farmers nor that of textile exporters, as a visionary government would have negotiated a deal that protected both and ensured prosperity for both sectors.
“18 per cent tariff vs 0 per cent. Let me explain how the Prime Minister and his cabinet are spreading confusion on this issue, and how they are cheating India’s cotton farmers and textile exporters through the India-US trade deal,” he said in his post.
Hitting back at Gandhi, Textile Minister Giriraj Singh accused him of spreading “misinformation without understanding the facts”.
“The reality is that India has secured a much better and more balanced trade arrangement with the United States compared to many of our competing countries, a deal designed holistically to support industry growth while safeguarding the interests of our farmers.
“India’s cotton export story is stronger and more diversified than ever,” Singh said, adding that it is not dependent on just one market.
In his post, Gandhi said Bangladesh is being given zero per cent tariff benefit on garment exports to the US, with the only condition that they import American cotton.
“After the announcement of 18 per cent tariff on Indian garments, when I raised the question in Parliament about the special concession being given to Bangladesh, the reply from a minister of the Modi government was: ‘If we also want the same benefit, we will have to import cotton from America’.
“Why was this fact hidden from the country till now? And what kind of policy is this? Is this really any kind of choice, or is it a trap designed to push us into a ‘well in front, ditch behind’ situation?” he asked.
The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said, “If we import American cotton, our own farmers will be ruined. If we do not import it, our textile industry will lag behind and get destroyed.” He claimed that Bangladesh is also giving signals that it may reduce or even stop importing cotton from India.
Gandhi said the textile industry and cotton farming are the backbone of livelihood in India, adding that crores of people depend on these sectors for their daily bread.
Attacking these sectors means pushing millions of families into unemployment and economic crisis, he claimed, adding that India’s textile sector provides employment to five crore families and that the US deal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi will destroy the industry.
“I call this surrender, as it will either kill the textile sector or the cotton sector or both,” Gandhi said in a video message.
“A visionary government that thinks in the national interest would have negotiated a deal that protects and ensures the prosperity of both cotton farmers and textile exporters.
“But exactly the opposite has happened. Narendra ‘Surrender’ Modi and his ministers have made an agreement that is likely to inflict deep damage on both sectors,” he said in his post.
