New Delhi:Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Modi government in Parliament, accusing it of compromising India’s interests in its dealings with the United States and raising concerns over digital trade and data sovereignty.

Opening his remarks with a strong political charge, Gandhi said,"... I am saying that you have sold India. Are you not ashamed of selling India? Do you have no shame in selling India? You have sold our mother, Bharat Mata. The interesting thing is that I know that the Prime Minister would not sell India under normal circumstances. You know why he sold India? Because they are choking him. They have got a grip on his neck... We can see fear in the eyes of the Prime Minister."

His remarks triggered protests from treasury benches as he questioned the government’s handling of strategic and trade issues.

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Referring to India’s global standing and recent diplomatic developments, Gandhi said India should not be treated on par with Pakistan in international engagements.

"... We would not be made equal to Pakistan. If President Trump decided that the Pakistan Army Chief was going to have breakfast with him, then we would have something to say about that. Now what has happened? You've done a trade deal..."

He then shifted focus to what he described as concessions in digital trade negotiations with the United States.

Gandhi claimed that the government had compromised on key aspects of digital policy, arguing that India’s data is its most valuable 21st-century asset.

"... The thing that is going to transform India in the 21st century, the thing that is going to make us a superpower in the 21st century, this is what the Modi government has done with our data. We give up control over our digital trade rules. Number two, there is no need for data localisation. Number three, free data flow to the United States. Number four, limit on digital tax. Number five, no need to disclose any source code. The finance minister is smiling. She likes to smile a lot. 20-year free tax holiday to anybody who wants it, to the big tax company. This is what you've done on data," he said.

He framed the issue as one of sovereignty and equality in negotiations with Washington.

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