Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met representatives of several farmer organisations at his Parliament office to discuss concerns related to the proposed India-US trade framework. The meeting has triggered sharp political reactions, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging that the interaction was “stage-managed”.

According to details shared, Gandhi — who is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha — held discussions with representatives of 17 major farmer unions from across the country. The farm leaders conveyed apprehensions that the trade agreement could adversely affect cultivators, particularly those growing corn, soyabean, cotton, fruits and nuts.

They urged the need for a nationwide movement to safeguard farmers’ rights and protect their incomes from any potential impact of the agreement.

BJP alleges ‘artificial narrative’

Responding to the development, Union Minister Piyush Goyal criticised the Congress leader, terming the meeting “artificial” and “baseless”. In a video post on X, Goyal alleged that Gandhi was attempting to mislead farmers.

“Mr Rahul Gandhi has once again rolled out a stage-managed, most artificial and fake narrative,” Goyal said. He further claimed that individuals posing as farmer leaders were aligned with the Congress party and were part of an orchestrated attempt to create confusion.

The minister added that the government had fully protected the interests of farmers in the India-US trade deal and accused the opposition of provoking sentiment against the country’s economic policies.

What the India-US trade framework proposes

The interim trade agreement between India and the United States focuses on lowering tariff barriers while balancing domestic agricultural sensitivities. As part of the arrangement, the US has agreed to reduce reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods — from levels as high as 50 per cent to 18 per cent — benefiting sectors such as textiles, leather, footwear and pharmaceuticals.

The government has maintained that between 90 and 95 per cent of Indian agricultural products remain outside the scope of the agreement, ensuring protection for farmers.

The political exchange reflects broader debate over the potential implications of the trade framework, particularly for the agriculture sector.

A former shooter linked to the gang of Mukhtar Ansari was shot dead in Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki district after unidentified attackers opened fire on his vehicle.

The deceased, Shoaib alias Bobby, had earlier been associated with Ansari’s criminal network. He was also an accused in the 1999 murder case of Lucknow jailer RK Tiwari.

Attack in Asaini area

According to police officials, the incident took place in the Asaini area when Shoaib was travelling from Barabanki towards Lucknow. A total of 15 rounds were fired at his vehicle during the attack.

Authorities said the firing continued for nearly ten minutes. Eyewitnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots as the vehicle came under sustained fire, creating panic in the locality. The scale of the assault and the number of bullets discharged indicate that more than one attacker may have been involved, police added.

Background of the deceased

Shoaib Bobby had been identified in the past as a shooter for the Ansari gang. He was named as an accused in the 1999 killing of jailer RK Tiwari in Lucknow.

About Mukhtar Ansari

Mukhtar Ansari, who was 63 at the time of his death in 2024, had been booked in 65 criminal cases over the years, including charges of murder and extortion. Despite his criminal record, he was elected five times as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from different political parties.

Born in 1963 into an influential family, Ansari entered organised crime during a period when contract mafia activities were prevalent in parts of Uttar Pradesh. From 2005 until his death, he remained lodged in various jails in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

Ansari died of cardiac arrest after being hospitalised in 2024. According to a medical bulletin issued in Hindi, he was shifted from jail in Banda to Rani Durgavati Medical College at around 8.25 pm after complaining of vomiting and being found unconscious.

Police are continuing their investigation into the Barabanki shooting.

Nishikant Dubey, a Member of Parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party, has sought the expulsion of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from the Lok Sabha. Dubey has submitted a notice calling for a substantive motion against Gandhi over his remarks concerning the India–US trade deal.

The BJP MP has demanded cancellation of Gandhi’s Lok Sabha membership and has also called for a lifetime ban on him from contesting elections. The development has raised questions about the procedure for removing a sitting Member of Parliament from the House.

How can a Lok Sabha MP be expelled

The process for expelling a Member of Parliament involves several procedural steps within the House:

Submission of complaint
The process begins when a member or political party files a formal complaint against a sitting MP.

Reference to committee
The Lok Sabha Speaker may refer the matter to the Committee of Privileges for examination. The committee is tasked with conducting a detailed inquiry into the allegations.

Investigation and findings
The committee can examine evidence, call witnesses, and allow the concerned MP to present a defence. After completing its review, it submits a report outlining its findings and recommendations.

Consideration by the House
The committee’s report is tabled in the Lok Sabha. If it recommends expulsion, a motion is moved in the House to adopt the recommendation.

Voting on expulsion
For the motion to pass, it must secure a majority of members present and voting. If approved, the MP stands expelled from the House.

Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification in 2023

In 2023, a court in Surat sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years in prison in a criminal defamation case related to a remark about the “Modi surname”. Under Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, any MP convicted and sentenced to two years or more faces automatic disqualification from Parliament.

Following the conviction, Gandhi was disqualified as a Member of Parliament. However, he later challenged the verdict in the Supreme Court of India, which stayed his conviction. After the stay order, his Lok Sabha membership was restored and he resumed his role as an MP.