Mumbai: Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday launched a sharp counterattack on Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of spreading confusion and misinformation on the India–US trade framework, particularly on issues related to cotton, textiles, and tariffs.
Speaking at a public gathering, Goyal openly questioned Rahul Gandhi’s understanding of economic policy and global trade dynamics. In an unusually blunt remark, the Union Minister said, “To this day, I still fail to understand how such a foolish person like Rahul Gandhi has been appointed the Leader of the Opposition.” He went on to allege that the Congress party was misleading the public by projecting claims that had no grounding in economic reality.
Targeting Gandhi’s criticism of the India–US interim trade arrangement, Goyal stated, “The Congress party is unable to grasp that a person with no understanding of economics, with nothing to offer but lies and deceit and tweeting statements, is thousands of miles away from the truth.” He asserted that India’s trade engagement with the United States was designed to strengthen domestic manufacturing and expand long-term opportunities for Indian farmers and exporters, including in the cotton and textile sectors.
Goyal’s remarks came in response to Rahul Gandhi’s accusation that the Modi government was hiding key details of the trade negotiations and jeopardising Indian interests. Gandhi had alleged that while Indian garments face an 18 per cent tariff in the US market, Bangladesh enjoys a zero-tariff advantage on garment exports by agreeing to import American cotton. According to Gandhi, this arrangement could hurt Indian cotton growers as well as textile manufacturers.
In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “18% Tariff vs 0% — Let me explain how the expert liar 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 further claimed, “Bangladesh is being given 0% tariff benefit on garment exports to the US — the only condition is that they import American cotton.”
Gandhi also questioned why, according to him, the government had not disclosed earlier that importing US cotton could be a prerequisite for India to seek similar tariff relief. He wrote, “After the announcement of 18% 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?”
He warned that such policy choices could damage domestic agriculture, disrupt the textile value chain, and push millions into unemployment and economic hardship.
Rejecting these claims, Goyal maintained that India’s cotton production capacity and domestic demand were poised to grow, and that selective narratives were being used to create fear. He accused the Congress leadership of politicising trade negotiations without offering viable alternatives, insisting that the government’s approach was rooted in national interest and long-term economic strength.
