Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray on Tuesday intensified the political debate over the India–US trade agreement, raising sharp questions about the Union government’s communication and demanding greater transparency while Parliament is in session.
In a detailed post on X, Thackeray pointed to what he described as conflicting signals from the Centre on the status of the trade pact. He noted that senior leaders from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had publicly hailed the agreement as a major achievement, only for subsequent remarks by the Union Commerce Minister to suggest that discussions were still ongoing. According to Thackeray, this contradiction has created uncertainty over whether the agreement has actually been finalised.
Questioning the basis of the government’s celebratory tone, Thackeray asked whether the Commerce Minister was unaware of the agreement’s final terms or whether the deal was still under negotiation. He argued that if crucial elements were yet to be settled, public congratulations and political messaging appeared premature and misleading.
The Sena (UBT) leader also highlighted what he called a disconnect between international announcements and domestic communication. Referring to statements and posts made by senior officials in the United States, including the US President, Thackeray said it was puzzling that the American side appeared confident about the deal while Indian ministers seemed to be sending mixed messages. He stressed that such ambiguity over a major economic agreement was not in the national interest.
Another major concern raised by Thackeray was the lack of parliamentary engagement. With the Budget Session underway, he questioned why the government had not first made a clear and detailed statement in Parliament before amplifying its claims on social media platforms. He suggested that established parliamentary convention requires the executive to inform elected representatives before projecting achievements publicly.
Thackeray further criticised the government’s handling of media interaction on the issue. He pointed out that while the Commerce Minister addressed the media, no questions were taken from journalists, limiting public understanding of the agreement’s scope and implications. Drawing a comparison, he remarked that even the US President regularly answers press questions, and argued that Indian ministers should do the same when dealing with agreements that could impact trade, agriculture, industry and employment.
Emphasising that his concerns went beyond party politics, Thackeray said the country deserved clear and complete information about a trade agreement with a key global partner. He warned that without official disclosures, citizens and lawmakers were being forced to rely on statements and posts from foreign officials to understand India’s commitments.
