New Delhi [India], May 24 (ANI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday targeted the Modi government over US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's remarks that India has committed to purchasing USD 500 billion in US goods over the next five years and asked why it has not renounced the 'anti-people, dangerous trade deal' with the United States like some other countries have done.

In a post on X, Jairam Ramesh said that the Indian rupee has lost 12% of its value against the US dollar over the past 12 months and asked if the surge in imports from the US would not further cause the rupee to depreciate.

He took a 'compromised' jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged that he was going the ' extra mile 'to appease' US President Donald Trump.

Jairam Ramesh alleged that communication on Indian foreign policy, from the Operation Sindoor ceasefire and the halting of Russian oil and gas imports to the Indo-US trade deal, is coming first from Washington DC.

He also alleged that PM Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have renounced their responsibility to communicate India's foreign policy.

The Congress leader said that Rubio had announced the ceasefire between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and had made some other announcements, including the proposed visit of Venezuela President to India.

'At 5:37 PM IST on May 10 2025, it was US Secretary of State Marco Rubio who first made the announcement of the cease fire that brought Operation Sindoor to an unexpected halt. He had claimed that it was intervention by President Trump that made the ceasefire possible. On May 21st 2026, Mr. Rubio was again the very first to announce that the President of Venezuela would be visiting India next week. This was even before India and Venezuela had even hinted or confirmed the news,' Ramesh said.

'Today, Mr. Rubio has once again shocked the country by making a statement on X that the Modi Government has committed to purchasing USD 500 billion in U.S. goods over the next five years focusing on energy, technology, and agriculture. India's current yearly imports are $52.9 billion as of FY26 - Secretary Rubio's statement implies that India will have to double its annual imports from the US,' he added.

Posing five questions to PM Modi, Jairam Ramesh said countries like Malaysia have declared their trade agreements with the US 'null and void' after the US Supreme Court ruling which struck down the Trump-tariffs that formed the backdrop to these agreements.

'The Indo-US trade deal, signed in a hurry by the PM while he was under pressure from @RahulGandhi's expose in Parliament, saw the Modi Government unilaterally make enormous concessions that threaten our farmers and industries,' the Congress leader said.

'The logic of this deal has now collapsed after the US Supreme Court's verdict striking down the tariffs. Why has the Modi Government not had the courage to renounce this anti-people, dangerous trade deal like Malaysia and other countries have?' he asked.

Jairam Ramesh said PM Modi has asked citizens to cut down on domestic fuel consumption and overseas travel to save foreign exchange.

'Why has the Modi Government simultaneously agreed to record imports from the US at the same time? The Indian rupee has lost 12% of its value against the US dollar over the past 12 months. Will this surge in imports from the US not further cause the rupee to depreciate?' he asked.

The Congress leader also talked about the relief for the Adani Group in the United States over certain allegations.

'Is Mr. Modi's capitulation to the US on imports linked to the relief provided to the Modani empire by Mr. Trump? Why is all the communication on Indian foreign policy - from the Operation Sindoor ceasefire and the halting of Russian oil and gas imports, to the Indo-US trade deal and the visit of the Venezuelan President - now coming first from Washington DC instead of New Delhi?' he asked.

'Why have the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister renounced their responsibility to communicate to the Indian people and to the world the foreign policy of our sovereign state?' he asked further.

Rubio, who is on a four-day visit to India, yesterday attended the dedication ceremony of the new US Embassy Support Annex Building in New Delhi.

'Huge thanks to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and our American diplomats for their efforts. Because of their great work, India has committed to purchasing USD 500 billion in U.S. goods over the next five years focusing on energy, technology, and agriculture. They're doing terrific work on behalf of President Trump and the American people!' Rubio said in a post on X.

The United States and India had, in February this year, announced that they have reached a framework for an Interim Agreement regarding reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade.

The framework reaffirmed the countries' commitment to the broader U.S.-India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) negotiations, launched by President Trump and PM Modi on February 13, 2025, which will include additional market access commitments and support more resilient supply chains. (ANI)