Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleges PM Modi is ‘compromised’

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, on Tuesday has alleged that  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been “compromised”. 

Gandhi made the remarks outside Parliament amid continued disruptions over references to China and former Army chief General M M Naravane’s memoir.

Gandhi alleged the prime minister appeared unsettled following the signing of a long-pending India–US trade agreement, alleging that the deal had been concluded under pressure and could harm India’s interests.

“Modiji is rattled. The trade deal, which was stalled for the past few months, was signed last night. There is extreme pressure on him, and his image can get damaged,” Gandhi reportedly said.

The Congress leader expressed anger at not being allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha for the second consecutive day during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address. He was stopped by the Chair after repeatedly raising the issue of China, citing an earlier ruling and violations of parliamentary rules related to his reference to an article on India—China relations.

Gandhi stated that for the first time in the nation’s history, the Leader of the Opposition was not allowed to speak on the President’s address. He said, “The Prime Minister has sold the hard work of the people of this country in this trade deal because he is compromised. He has sold the nation.”

Talking to the media, Gandhi further escalated his criticism by referring to the so-called Epstein files and allegations linked to US-based legal cases involving industrialist Gautam Adani. He claimed these issues were placing additional pressure on the prime minister.

“There is a case against Adaniji in the US, and it is effectively a case against Modiji,” Gandhi said. “Those who built his image are now breaking it. The Epstein files contain more information that has not yet been released. These are pressure points, and the country needs to understand this.”

The allegations related to the Epstein files have been firmly rejected by the Indian government. 

In a statement issued on January 31, the Ministry of External Affairs said it had taken note of an email purportedly linked to the files that mentioned the prime minister’s visit to Israel.

The ministry clarified that Prime Minister Modi did undertake an official visit to Israel in July 2017, but described all other insinuations contained in the message as “entirely baseless and contemptible”.