New Delhi/Ranchi Feb 14(UNI) BJP leader Nishikant Dubey on Saturday challenged Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to an open public debate, accusing him of spreading a “big lie” regarding India-US trade dynamics, cotton imports and their impact on Indian farmers and the textile sector.
In a post on social media platform X, Dubey responded to a video shared by Gandhi in which the Congress leader alleged that the Modi government was misleading the country over US tariff structures.
Gandhi had claimed that Indian garments face an 18 per cent tariff in the US market, while Bangladesh enjoys zero duty benefits, linking the issue to US cotton imports.
Rejecting the claims, Dubey questioned the factual basis of the allegations and asked Gandhi to clarify the actual requirement and scale of US cotton imports.
He also sought details on India’s domestic cotton production, the current condition of cotton farmers and textile mills, and the broader trade realities.
Dubey further alleged that Gandhi’s narrative was aimed at creating confusion and accused him of promoting what he termed a “fake narrative” on trade and farmer issues.
He also made references to alleged external influences and ideological linkages, challenging Gandhi to debate the matter “on any forum”.
The exchange comes amid heightened political tensions between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.
The BJP leader has recently moved a substantive motion in the Lok Sabha seeking Gandhi’s disqualification over separate allegations, citing a 1978 parliamentary precedent involving former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
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