Wednesday’s Lok Sabha session teetered on the edge of disruption after Congress heavyweight Manish Tewari submitted an adjournment notice targeting the explosive India-US trade arrangement. In his letter to Secretary General Snehlata Shrivastava, Tewari demanded precedence for debate, framing it as an urgent threat to public welfare.
Quoting a contentious US President statement, Tewari alleged commitments to cease Russian oil buys, escalate US and Venezuelan imports, erase all trade impediments, and procure over half a trillion dollars in US goods.
He elaborated on the fallout: Russian supplies have cushioned inflation at the pumps, and disruption risks heaping costs on consumers and sectors. Vast trade openings could cripple Indian makers, farmers, and SMEs, inviting unfair competition.
“Issue a prompt statement and enable complete discussion,” Tewari implored the government, advocating transparency to safeguard decisions in trade, fuel strategy, and foreign affairs.
The agreement’s outlines show US tariffs on Indian exports down to 18%, with reciprocal Indian easings for American wares. Detractors, mainly from opposition ranks, lambast it as disproportionately advantageous to the US, jeopardizing India’s Atmanirbhar vision.
As parliamentary battles loom larger, Tewari’s gambit spotlights simmering discontent with executive-led pacts. The motion’s approval could pivot the agenda, thrusting the trade deal into the national spotlight and fueling a broader reckoning on India’s global trade path.