Rahul backs YC protest, slams trade deal with US as ‘compromise’

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday voiced strong support for Youth Congress workers and accused the Centre of compromising national interests through its recent trade agreement with the United States.

In a post on X, Gandhi defended the right to dissent and described peaceful protest as intrinsic to India’s democratic ethos. “Peaceful protest is our historic legacy. It runs in our blood and is a democratic right of every Indian,” he wrote.

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Expressing solidarity with members of the Indian Youth Congress, Gandhi said he was “proud” of their actions. “I am proud of my brave Youth Congress colleagues who have fearlessly raised their voice in the interest of the nation against the ‘COMPROMISED PM,’” he stated.
Gandhi alleged that the government’s trade deal with the United States undermines key domestic sectors. “The trade deal with the United States has compromised the country’s interests. This agreement will harm our farmers and the textile industry, and will hand over our data into American hands,” he claimed.

While the government has maintained that closer trade engagement with the US will boost investment, exports and technology partnerships, the Congress has repeatedly raised concerns over the potential impact on agriculture, small industries and data sovereignty.
The remarks come amid ongoing political debate over the contours of India’s trade negotiations with major global economies and the broader implications for domestic manufacturing and digital regulation.

Gandhi also criticised the arrest of IYC president Uday Bhanu Chib and other party workers, describing the action as undemocratic.
“The arrest of Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib and other IYC colleagues for placing this truth before the nation is proof of authoritarian tendencies and cowardice,” he wrote.

The Youth Congress had staged a protest targeting the Prime Minister over the trade deal, using the phrase “COMPROMISED PM” to criticise what they termed concessions made during negotiations.

Reiterating the party’s backing for its youth wing, Gandhi said, “The Congress party and I stand firmly with our brave colleagues. Showing the mirror of truth to those in power is not a crime — it is patriotism.”

He also called for resilience among party workers and supporters: “Do not be afraid — truth and the Constitution are on our side,” adding the hashtag #IStandWithYouthCongress.
The statement signals the Congress party’s intent to sharpen its attack on the government over economic policy and civil liberties, positioning the trade deal and the arrests as part of a broader political and ideological contest ahead of upcoming electoral battles.