Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement that India has committed to purchasing $500 billion worth of American goods over the next five years, the Congress on Sunday (May 24, 2026) alleged that the “compromised PM” was going the extra mile to appease his “good friend”.

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X, questioned why key announcements relating to India’s foreign policy and bilateral engagements were increasingly emanating from Washington rather than New Delhi.

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Referring to Mr. Rubio’s recent statement that India had committed to purchasing $500 billion worth of U.S. goods over five years, Mr. Ramesh said India’s yearly imports from the country, currently at about $52.9 billion, will have to be doubled.

Posting what he described as “five straight questions” to the Prime Minister, Mr. Ramesh criticised the India-U.S. trade agreement, asking why the Modi government did not have the “courage” to scrap what he termed as an “anti-people” agreement that threatened farmers and domestic industry. He argued that countries such as Malaysia had declared similar agreements “null and void” following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down the Trump-administration tariffs underpinning such trade negotiations.

“The PM is on record asking 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 U.S. at the same time?” Mr. Ramesh said.

“The Indian rupee has lost 12% of its value against the U.S. dollar over the past 12 months. Will this surge in imports from the U.S. not further cause the rupee to depreciate?” he added.

Mr. Ramesh also sought clarification on whether the government’s trade decisions were linked to recent developments related to the dropping of criminal fraud charges against industrialist Gautam Adani in the U.S.

The Congress leader also recalled earlier instances where, according to him, major diplomatic developments were first announced by American officials. He pointed to Mr. Rubio’s statement on May 10, 2025, regarding the ceasefire that brought Operation Sindoor to a halt, and his subsequent announcement concerning the Venezuelan President’s proposed India visit.

“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?” Mr. Ramesh asked.

“It appears that the compromised Prime Minister is keen on going the extra mile to appease and please his good friend,” he added.