Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a strong political attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of misleading farmers over trade agreements and asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi safeguarded agricultural and dairy interests during negotiations with both the European Union and the United States. Shah also challenged Gandhi to a public debate on the issue, escalating the ongoing political confrontation between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.
Addressing a gathering in Gujarat after inaugurating the country’s first central bank digital currency (CBDC)-based public distribution system, Shah alleged that Rahul Gandhi was spreading misinformation regarding the impact of recent trade deals on Indian farmers. He claimed that the government had ensured protection for domestic agriculture and the dairy sector during negotiations and reassured farmers that their interests had not been compromised.
Shah contrasted the current government’s policies with those of the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), arguing that procurement and financial support for farmers had increased significantly under the Modi administration. He said the government had purchased substantially more grain at minimum support prices compared to the UPA era and highlighted a rise in agricultural budget allocations from ₹26,000 crore during the earlier period to ₹1,29,000 crore under the present government. He also referred to the direct income support scheme that transfers ₹6,000 annually to farmers’ bank accounts, describing it as a long-term measure designed to reduce dependence on loan waivers.
Intensifying his criticism, Shah challenged Rahul Gandhi to choose any forum for an open discussion, stating that BJP youth leadership would participate in a debate on agricultural policies and trade agreements. Emphasising Gujarat’s strong dairy economy, he argued that the government had taken specific steps to shield the dairy sector in international negotiations.
The home minister also criticised decisions taken during earlier Congress governments, referring to the Dunkel Draft negotiations of the early 1990s. He alleged that those agreements exposed Indian agriculture to global market pressures, while claiming that subsequent policy changes under Prime Minister Modi strengthened protections for farmers. The Dunkel Draft was a framework developed during the Uruguay Round of global trade talks and later contributed to agreements that led to the formation of the World Trade Organization in 1995.
Shah’s remarks come amid heightened political exchanges over the India–US interim trade arrangement. Rahul Gandhi has criticised the agreement, arguing that it could harm Indian farmers by allowing foreign agricultural products greater access to domestic markets. He has raised concerns about imports such as dried distillers’ grains and genetically modified soy oil and warned that such arrangements could eventually weaken procurement systems and minimum support price mechanisms. In social media posts, Gandhi has described the trade deal as a potential betrayal of farmers’ interests.
Alongside his political comments, Shah highlighted the government’s push toward technology-driven governance, focusing on the launch of a CBDC-based public distribution system intended to improve transparency in ration delivery. He said digital reforms have transformed welfare distribution, noting that millions of citizens who previously lacked bank accounts are now integrated into the financial system. According to him, India currently accounts for a significant share of global digital transactions, reflecting rapid progress under the Digital India initiative.
Describing the new ration distribution model as “leak-proof,” Shah said the use of digital currency technology would reduce corruption and ensure benefits reach intended recipients directly. He added that the system represents a combination of technological innovation and welfare delivery and indicated that the model is expected to be expanded nationwide over the next three to four years.
