Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticised the Modi government on January 31, 2026, following remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that India has committed to purchasing USD 500 billion in US goods over the next five years. Ramesh questioned why India has not renounced what he described as an “anti-people, dangerous trade deal” with the United States, as some other countries have done.
In a post on X, Ramesh noted that the Indian rupee has depreciated by 12% against the US dollar in the past 12 months and asked whether the expected surge in imports from the US would cause further devaluation. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of going the “extra mile” to appease then US President Donald Trump.
Ramesh also claimed that communication on Indian foreign policy – from Operation Sindoor ceasefire to the halting of Russian oil and gas imports and the Indo-US trade deal – has originated first from Washington DC rather than New Delhi. He alleged that Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have abdicated their responsibility to communicate India’s foreign policy.
He highlighted that Rubio had announced the ceasefire between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor at 5:37 PM IST on May 10, 2025, claiming it was made possible through President Trump’s intervention. Rubio also announced a proposed visit of the Venezuelan President to India on May 21, 2026, before official Indian confirmation.
Ramesh said: “Today, Mr. Rubio has once again shocked the country by making a statement on X that the Modi Government has committed to purchasing USD 500 billion in U.S. goods over the next five years focusing on energy, technology, and agriculture. India’s current yearly imports are $52.9 billion as of FY26 – Secretary Rubio’s statement implies that India will have to double its annual imports from the US.”
He posed five questions to Prime Minister Modi, citing that countries like Malaysia have declared their trade agreements with the US null and void following a US Supreme Court ruling that struck down Trump-era tariffs which formed the backdrop to such agreements. Ramesh commented that the Indo-US trade deal was signed hastily by Modi under pressure from Rahul Gandhi’s parliamentary expose and involved significant concessions harming Indian farmers and industries.
Ramesh asked: “Why has the Modi Government not had the courage to renounce this anti-people, dangerous trade deal like Malaysia and other countries have?” He also pointed to Modi’s appeal for citizens to reduce domestic fuel consumption and overseas travel to save foreign exchange, questioning the rationale behind simultaneously agreeing to record imports from the US.
Ramesh further questioned whether Modi’s stance on imports was linked to relief provided by President Trump to the Adani Group regarding certain allegations. He added: “Why is all the communication on Indian foreign policy – from the Operation Sindoor ceasefire and the halting of Russian oil and gas imports, to the Indo-US trade deal and the visit of the Venezuelan President – now coming first from Washington DC instead of New Delhi?” and asked why the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister “have renounced their responsibility to communicate to the Indian people and to the world the foreign policy of our sovereign state.”
Marco Rubio, who is on a four-day visit to India, attended a dedication ceremony for the new US Embassy Support Annex Building in New Delhi on January 30, 2026. He expressed his gratitude to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and American diplomats, stating on X that “Because of their great work, India has committed to purchasing USD 500 billion in U.S. goods over the next five years focusing on energy, technology, and agriculture. They’re doing terrific work on behalf of President Trump and the American people!”
In February 2026, the US and India announced a framework for an Interim Agreement on reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade. The framework reaffirmed the countries’ commitment to broader US-India Bilateral Trade Agreement negotiations, which were launched on February 13, 2025, by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi, and will include further market access commitments and efforts to support resilient supply chains.