NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi created a fresh political flashpoint on Thursday when he briefly interrupted Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Prahlad Joshi outside Parliament, moments after delivering a scathing speech inside the House.
The incident unfolded as IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was speaking to reporters about data security and urging Gandhi to substantiate the serious allegations he had levelled during the Budget debate. Midway through Vaishnaw’s remarks, Gandhi approached the ministers from behind and interjected.
“Come, let’s stand together. Let us do it together,” Gandhi said, as the ministers moved away.
Sharp Attack Over India–US Deal
Earlier in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi had accused the Centre of striking what he described as a “wholesale surrender” in the proposed India–US interim trade agreement. He alleged that the deal compromised India’s energy security and farmers’ interests.
Using a martial arts analogy, Gandhi claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to the terms under pressure. “Why has he sold India? Because they are choking him. They have a grip on his neck,” he said.
Gandhi argued that the global environment is becoming increasingly unstable, pointing to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. “We are moving into a dangerous world,” he said, stressing the need to protect India’s core strengths — its people, data, food systems and energy security.
#WATCH | “Come, let’s stand together. Let’s do it together,’ says LoP, Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, to Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Ashwini Vaishnaw as he approaches the media stand in Parliament premises, where the Union Ministers were already present. pic.twitter.com/susfZ9ZeeW
— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2026
Data and Energy at the Centre of Debate
The Congress leader said that if the INDIA bloc were in power, it would have insisted on negotiating with the United States as an equal partner.
He described Indian data as the country’s most valuable strategic asset and said any agreement should recognize its importance. He also emphasized that energy security and farmer protection would be non-negotiable under an opposition-led government.
According to Gandhi, the interim deal risks allowing external influence over India’s oil purchases and financial systems. He accused the government of enabling “energy and financial weaponisation” against national interests.
“How can you defend this? Are you not ashamed of what you are giving away?” he asked during his speech, triggering loud protests from Treasury bench MPs.
Treasury Benches Push Back
Ruling party members repeatedly objected to Gandhi’s remarks, calling them “baseless” and demanding evidence to support his claims. Vaishnaw later reiterated outside Parliament that serious allegations should be properly authenticated.
Gandhi, however, maintained that he was prepared to back up his statements.
The heated exchange both inside and outside the House underscores rising political tensions as Parliament debates the Union Budget and India’s evolving global economic partnerships.
