New Delhi: A fresh political confrontation erupted on Wednesday after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the India-US interim trade deal, accusing him of avoiding a direct response and “quietly slipping off to Israel”.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responded swiftly, accusing Gandhi of undermining India’s image abroad and asserting that the Prime Minister was strengthening national security ties during his visit to Israel.

Rahul’s swipe over trade deal

In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi wrote that more than 24 hours had passed since he challenged the Prime Minister to cancel the US trade deal, alleging that Modi had once again avoided answering the criticism.

Referring to the Prime Minister’s Israel visit, Gandhi remarked that Modi had “quietly slipped off to Israel”, escalating his attack with further allegations linked to external pressure in sealing the trade arrangement.

The remarks came a day after Gandhi addressed a ‘Kisan Mahachaupal’ rally in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, where he described the Indo-US interim trade deal as “an arrow in the heart of farmers”.

Speaking at the rally, Gandhi said he challenged the Prime Minister to scrap the agreement if he had the courage to do so, alleging that the pact had been finalised under pressure. He also reiterated claims that the agreement was influenced by external developments in the United States, including legal proceedings and trade disputes.

BJP counters attack

The BJP hit back strongly at Gandhi’s remarks. Party national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said on social media that the Prime Minister was addressing the Knesset in Israel and working to enhance India’s security capabilities through advanced defence technologies.

Bhatia accused Gandhi of projecting the country in a poor light internationally and contrasted it with what he described as Modi’s efforts to elevate India’s global standing.

He further questioned Gandhi about a memorandum of understanding signed between the Congress and the Chinese Communist Party in previous years, asking him to clarify its details.

The BJP maintained that the Prime Minister’s foreign engagements were focused on strengthening diplomatic and strategic partnerships rather than avoiding domestic political debate.

US Supreme Court ruling adds fuel

The political exchange comes in the backdrop of a significant ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States. In a 6-3 verdict, the court held that tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on multiple countries were illegal, stating that he had exceeded his authority in imposing sweeping levies.

The ruling has provided fresh ammunition to the Opposition, with Gandhi arguing that the interim trade arrangement between India and the US should be revisited in light of the judgment.

While the Centre has not issued a detailed response to Gandhi’s latest statements, government sources indicated that trade negotiations are conducted in the national interest and involve multiple institutional checks and consultations.

Escalating war of words

The ongoing exchange underscores the sharp political divide over economic and foreign policy matters ahead of key electoral cycles. The Congress has positioned the trade deal as detrimental to farmers and small producers, while the BJP has defended it as part of broader efforts to strengthen India’s global trade and strategic partnerships.

As the debate intensifies, both parties appear set to continue leveraging the issue in public forums and social media. Whether the controversy translates into policy review or remains confined to political rhetoric remains to be seen.

For now, the row over the India-US interim trade deal has added another chapter to the escalating war of words between the ruling party and the Opposition.