Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said that if the Opposition's INDIA bloc was negotiating with US President Donald Trump on the trade deal, they would emphasise the importance of Indian data.

"Talk to us like equals, not like we are your servants. Please understand that our energy security is ours, we are going to protect it. We understand you have an agricultural voter base, that you need to protect farmers, but we will also protect our farmers. We will not be made equal to Pakistan," he said, in reference to the US.

The three essential things in turbulent times, Rahul Gandhi said, are people and data, food supply, and energy.

The Union Budget recognises these things, but says nothing about energy and finance weaponisation, he said.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi warned that as the world moves into the era of artificial intelligence, there are going to be consequences, like the threat posed to India's information technology sector and software engineers.

This, he went on to say, will create a turbulent dangerous world, where it will be imperative to understand the strengths of the nation. "Our strength is our 1.4 billion brilliant, energetic, dynamic people who can challenge anybody in the world. In the 21st century, people create data, so we have the biggest data pool on the planet. Data is wealth and talking about AI without talking about data is like talking about an engine without talking about petrol. The two biggest pools of data on the planet are Indian and Chinese. We allow more freedom," he said. 

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said that two profound points he noted in the Economic Survey, tabled on January 29, include the mention of geopolitical conflict, challenge to dollar and the mention of an end of the era of war.

"The old system, dollar-based, US-based system, unipolar system is being challenged. US dominance is being challenged by the Chinese, Russians, other forces," he said, citing the Economic Survey.

He added that another point he noted focussed on energy and finance weaponisation and the move from a world of stability to instability. "PM Modi and NSA (Ajit Doval) stated that the era of war is over. In fact, we are moving into an era of war. Ukraine, Gaza, Operation Sindoor....we are moving into world of instability," he added.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said the foundation of martial arts is the grip on the opponent. "That grip can be seen by the opponent in martial arts, but not in poltiics," he said.

Opposition parties on Tuesday put in motion the process to oust Om Birla as Lok Sabha speaker, alleging that he had acted in a "blatantly partisan" manner in the House and prompting him to step aside from chairing the proceedings till the matter is settled. Opposition leaders said the notice to move the no-confidence motion was signed by at least 118 MPs, including those of the Congress, DMK, Samajwadi Party, Left parties and the RJD.

Opposition MPs staged protests in both Houses over the India-US trade deal. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that the framework of the deal "appears far less like a free trade agreement and far more like a pre-committed purchase that overturns the very idea of reciprocity".

A political controversy erupted after Rahul Gandhi sought to quote excerpts from Naravane's memoir Four Stars of Destiny in Parliament during his speech in Lok Sabha last week. He cited a 2023 social media post by General Naravane to support his claim that the book was available for purchase. The Speaker Om Birla passed a ruling, asking Gandhi not to quote unpublished literature.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to address the House at 12 pm, amid days of protest by the Opposition over not letting him speak after he mentioned former Army Chief General MM Naravane's unpublished memoir.