Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said high US tariffs are severely hurting India’s textile sector and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to urgently
intervene, warning that job losses and factory shutdowns are already underway. Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said India must secure a trade deal with the United States that prioritises Indian businesses and workers. He alleged that the government’s inaction on tariffs was worsening the situation for exporters and employees. The Congress leader shared a video on X from his recent visit to a garment factory in Haryana, where he interacted with workers and management and observed production processes. In the post accompanying the video, Gandhi said, “50 per cent US tariffs and uncertainty are badly hurting India’s textile exporters. Job losses, factory shutdowns and reduced orders are a reality of our 'Dead Economy'.”
He added, “Mr. Modi has offered no relief or even spoken about tariffs, even though more than 4.5 crore jobs and lakhs of businesses are at stake. Modi ji, you are accountable; please direct your attention to this matter!” The post carried the hashtag TINA — “There is No Accountability”.
Gandhi also uploaded the video on YouTube with a similar message. Reiterating his criticism of the government, he said, “Modi ji, you are accountable; please direct your attention to this matter!”, a remark seen as a pointed swipe at the PM, apparently in reference to US President Donald Trump’s commonly used phrase in social media posts.
Highlighting the importance of the sector, Gandhi said, “India's textile industry is the second largest employer in our economy – our textiles are loved worldwide, and the craftsmanship of our tailors is truly unparalleled. Yet today, this industry is facing deep uncertainty and fear because of US tariffs.”
He said exporters were under pressure from multiple fronts. “With 50 per cent tariffs in the US, falling prices in Europe, and fierce competition from Bangladesh and China, our garment and textile exporters are facing pressure from all sides,” Gandhi said.
According to him, the impact is being felt directly by workers. Units are shutting down, procurement is declining and there is widespread disruption across the sector, he said.
Gandhi repeated that the government had failed to provide relief. “Mr. Modi has offered no relief or even spoken about tariffs, even though more than 4.5 crore jobs and lakhs of businesses are at stake,” he said.
Referring to his factory visit, he said, “During my recent visit to a garment factory in Haryana, I witnessed firsthand the skill of our tailors and the resilience and ambition of our people – they simply need a government that provides them with genuine support.”
He stressed the need for a favourable trade agreement with Washington, saying it was essential that India secures a U.S. trade deal that puts Indian businesses and Indian workers first.
“PM Modi must not allow his own weakness to impact our economy, any further,” Gandhi added.
In the video, Gandhi is seen touring different sections of the factory, speaking with workers and executives, and briefly trying his hand at cutting cloth.
