Kharge, Rahul to meet Congress leaders from five States, J&K on February 20 to plan strategy against India-U.S. trade deal

Seeking to increase pressure on the Narendra Modi Government regarding the interim Indo-U.S. trade agreement, the Congress has planned a meeting of leaders from five States and a Union Territory with party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on February 20 to chart its political strategy.

Leaders from Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir will meet Mr. Gandhi and Mr. Kharge to discuss the fallout of the trade deal on farmers in these regions.

The locations were shortlisted on the basis of the agricultural crops, fruits, and nuts grown there and the possible impact of the agreement on them, a source said.

“We are already running a ground campaign against the Modi Government for scrapping the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). Now, we will add this too,” a senior Congress leader said, adding, “We won’t let off the government on this deal.”

The party has accused the government of “surrendering” the interests of India’s farmers, energy security, and digital and data autonomy. To amplify its stance, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Sachin Pilot, and others will hold outreach programmes and press conferences on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by the meeting between Mr. Kharge, Mr. Gandhi, and the State leaders.

“National interest cannot be mortgaged under the guise of a trade deal,” Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala had said on Monday (February 17, 2026).

He alleged that the February 6 framework agreement opened the door to duty-free imports of American agricultural and food products, which, he said, would “devastate” the livelihoods of crores of farmers.

He warned that imports of maize, sorghum, soyabean, cotton, and processed foods could depress domestic prices.

Further, he said fruit and nut growers in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and other regions could face severe pressure if U.S. produce entered tariff-free.