India-US trade deal: Priyanka Gandhi alleges Centre undermining farmers

Days after the IndiaUS trade deal Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday alleged Centre of undermining farmers and workersIn a post on X Priyanka Gandhi shared a video of Opposition MPs protesting outside the Parliament during the on going Union Budget 2026 sessionThe leader accused the Centre of working against the interests of farmers and workersIn a statement Congress leaders alleged that the government first weakened labour rights by introducing the new Labour Codes and later compromised farmersrsquo interests under pressure from the United States during a trade dealShe claimed that the conditions agreed upon in the reported US trade agreement would severely impact Indian farmers It said such terms could ldquobreak the backbonerdquo of the farming communityCongress leaders argued that the government should protect domestic agriculture rather than accept conditions that may harm rural livelihoods hellip pictwittercom0ZxGAOng10mdash Priyanka Gandhi Vadra priyankagandhi February 12 2026Reference to previous farm lawsThe statement also referred to the nowrepealed farm laws alleging that protests against those laws had led to the deaths of around 750 farmersThe party accused the Centre of bringing policies that it described as ldquoantipeoplerdquo and said it would continue to oppose decisions that harm farmers and workersThe Congress said it stands firmly with farmers and labourers and would not allow injustice against themThe government has not yet responded to the latest remarksPriyanka Gandhi denies lsquoegging onrsquo MPs in speakerrsquos chamber rowMeanwhile Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday rejected allegations made by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju calling them ldquoa lierdquo reported the PTIShe denied claims that she encouraged Congress MPs to misbehave in the chamber of Lok Sabha Speaker Om BirlaThe row follows Rijijursquos statement that 20 to 25 Congress MPs had entered the Speakerrsquos chamber last week abused him and threatened the Prime Minister He alleged that senior Congress leaders including Priyanka Gandhi and K C Venugopal did not stop the MPs and instead encouraged themOn Thursday Rijiju shared a video clip on social media claiming it showed Congress MPs entering the Speakerrsquos chamber and behaving improperly He described the clip as having been recorded by a Congress MP according to the PTIHe said his party believes in debate and discussion and does not support any physical threats or misconduct by MPsThe protest had taken place after opposition MPs objected to remarks made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey about former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira GandhiResponding to the charges Priyanka Gandhi told reporters in the Parliament complex that neither she nor her colleagues abused anyoneldquoWe did not abuse anyone One or two MPs were agitated and expressed it He also said that I was encouraging them which is a lie I was sitting quietly In the end I said a few things peacefully to the Speakerrdquo she saidThe exchange has added to tensions between the ruling BJP and the Congress in Parliamentwith PTI inputs