'Is House inferior to Elon Musk's X?': CPI-M's Brittas slams govt on Indo-US trade deal announcement
New Delhi (PTI): CPI-M Rajya Sabha member John Brittas on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Modi government for announcing the Indo-US trade deal on social media platform X instead of Parliament, questioning whether the House had become "inferior to Elon Musk's X platform."
Participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in the Upper House, Brittas raised concerns about the deal's potential impact on India's farm sector and accused the government of compromising the country's sovereignty.
PARLIAMENT OR X PLATFORM
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"Is this House more important than Elon Musk's X platform? That's the question," Brittas said, criticizing the government for announcing the deal at 9 pm on social media rather than on the floor of Parliament during an ongoing session.
He questioned the timing of the announcement, suggesting that the Prime Minister had to be "alert and awake at 11 pm at night to respond to his (US President) teasers," while Cabinet ministers relied on X to "shower compliments to Donald Trump."
"The healthy convention of this country is that any policy decision during Parliament session, any important decision, should be announced on the floor of the House, rather than on X platform. So, where is this country going?" he asked.
CONCERNS OVER AGRICULTURE SECTOR
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Brittas highlighted three key principles outlined by the US President in what he termed the "teaser" — that India will not buy oil from Russia, all trade barriers will be removed with zero tariff for imported items, and India will import goods worth USD 500 billion from the US.
"It translates to something like Rs 45 lakh crore. We can't even comprehend the amount. And tomorrow it will be Rs 47 lakh crore because the rupee is plummeting," he said.
The Kerala MP noted that the US Secretary of Agriculture had complimented Trump for "opening up the agriculture of India," raising fears that products like soya, maize, cotton, and dairy would flood Indian markets.
The US has mechanised and low-cost production of agriculture products unlike Europe, he warned adding that even after 15-20 hours, there had been no clarification from the government.
'SOVEREIGNTY AT STAKE'
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Brittas questioned India's sovereignty in decision-making, particularly on oil imports. "Who is the Petroleum Minister of this country? Donald Trump will tell you where to buy the oil from. Stop the oil from Iran. Stop the oil from Venezuela. Stop the oil from Russia," he said.
"I am talking about the sovereignty of this great nation, the mother of democracy. We were the leader of the non-aligned nation. We never bowed to anybody," he added, contrasting the current approach with India's historical foreign policy stance.
RUPEE DEPRECIATION
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On currency depreciation, Brittas recalled that when the rupee was at 60 to a dollar, the current government had said it was "in ICU, terminally ill, mute like the Prime Minister."
"If the rupee was in ICU when it was 60, at 92, it should be in mortuary or graveyard," he said.
GAP IN BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION
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The CPI-M leader pointed to the gap between budget announcements and actual spending. He cited the Prime Minister's internship programme, for which Rs 10,831 crore was earmarked but only Rs 526 crore — barely 4 per cent — was spent.
"This shows the real picture of your performance. How you are taking this country down the garden path. Such a vast gap between words and deeds. It's more than the Pacific Ocean," he said.
KERALA'S GRIEVANCES
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Brittas also raised issues specific to Kerala, claiming the state had been "consistently insulted" despite Union Minister Suresh Gopi's presence in the government. He mentioned unfulfilled promises including an AIIMS and tourism circuits.
"The Constitution says India is a union of states. Is Kerala not a state?" he asked, noting that 22 AIIMS had been granted to different states but Kerala's remained pending.
He praised Kerala as having a "gold standard" and being the first state to provide free education up to the graduate level.
ARTIFICIAL LIMB CONTROVERSY
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Brittas also attacked BJP MP Sadanandan Master for displaying artificial limbs in the House during his maiden speech on Monday.
"When he is giving speeches in Kerala, he is standing on his artificial limbs. It's an unfortunate incident. He enacts a drama by exhibiting, demonstrating his artificial limb," Brittas said.
The Kerala MP concluded by saying the people of Kerala "will never ever forgive them" and would not give the BJP a "foothold in Kerala."
It is alarming that the Prime Minister and Ministers are relying on Elon Musk’s X platform to provide teasers and responses to such a significant agreement. With Parliament currently in session, any responsible government should have made the formal announcement on the floor of…
— John Brittas (@JohnBrittas) February 3, 2026
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Mhatre's fifty carries CSK to 209/5 against PBKS
Chennai (PTI): Ayush Mhatre showcased his abundant talent with a 43-ball 73, powering Chennai Super Kings to a competitive 209 for five against Punjab Kings in an Indian Premier League match here on Friday.
Mhatre and skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (28) added 96 runs for the second wicket, the crux of the CSK innings, after Sanju Samson returned to the hut early.
Samson inexplicably moved down to the leg-side and tried to cart Xavier Bartlett’s out-swinger over covers, but all he could manage was a healthy edge to Prabhsimran Singh behind the wicket.
But his dismissal proved a minor jitter, as Mhatre tore apart Punjab's bowling with power and precision.
Pacer Bartlett was the aggrieved party early as Mhatre smashed him for three fours in a row — a loft through mid-wicket, a flick and a pull. His audacity helped CSK reach 57 for one in the Power Play.
Mhatre seemed to have put behind, at least for now, his issues against short-pitched balls, as the Mumbai young man later pulled Marco Jansen for a six.
Mhatre later punished Marcus Stoinis for two sixes in a row — both down the ground — and the first maximum also fetched his fifty in 29 balls.
But he shrugged a bit against the guiles of Yuzvendra Chahal, failing to read him well.
The veteran leg-spinner foxed Mhatre, 17 years younger to him, with a series of googlies, but fortune was not in favour of the former.
On 59, Mhatre was dropped by Vijayakumar Vyshak inside the circle and later on 67 by Shahshank Singh in the deep.
But luck eventually ran out as Mhatre’s attempt to steer Vyshak ended in the hands of Chahal at short third man, as both of them got their own piece of revenge.
In between, Gaikwad too was ousted by Chahal as CSK’s march dulled a bit between 10th and 15th overs. In those five overs, the home side managed just 45 runs.
Sarfaraz Khan (32, 12 balls) tried to instil some urgency into CSK innings while playing his trademark dabs and close-to-body shots for a flurry of boundaries.
Sarfaraz clobbered Arshdeep Singh and Vyshak for a hat-trick of fours each with those impish shots before skying Vyshak to Nehal Wadhera.
But that knock coupled with a few strong hits by Shivam Dube (45, 27b) helped CSK eke out 64 runs in the last five overs and this total could see some interesting chase as still there has been no trace of dew in Chepauk.
