New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha proceedings witnessed a sharp exchange on Wednesday when CPI(M) MP John Brittas moved a notice under Rule 267 to suspend the day’s scheduled business and immediately take up discussion on the recently announced India-US trade deal.
Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan declined the request, stating that Rule 267, which permits suspension of the House’s agenda, would not be allowed without a demonstrated emergency.
The development came amid ongoing opposition criticism of the trade agreement, first announced by US President Donald Trump on the social media platform X late on February 2, followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response.
Opposition members, including those from Congress, CPI(M), and others, have demanded full transparency, tabling of the agreement’s text, and parliamentary debate, alleging the government bypassed convention by not presenting details in the House during the session.
Brittas, participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, had earlier slammed the announcement timing and medium. He questioned whether Parliament had become “inferior to Elon Musk’s X platform,” pointing out that the deal was revealed at 9 p.m. on social media while the House was active.
He expressed concerns over the potential impact on India’s agriculture sector, sovereignty, and strategic autonomy, accusing the government of compromising national interests without adequate scrutiny.
Brittas highlighted the lack of clarification even hours after the announcement and the unusual late-night engagement required from Indian leaders to respond to US statements.
The India-US trade deal, described by some as a landmark reset in bilateral ties after months of tariff frictions, includes the US reduction of reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 25 per cent to 18 per cent, effective immediately. Trump claimed India agreed to lower its tariffs and non-tariff barriers to zero on US products, cease purchases of Russian oil, and increase imports from the US and Venezuela.
(IANS)
