Following Donald Trump’s announcement of an additional 25% tariff on Indian products, the Congress-led opposition has targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The opposition advises Modi to learn from Indira Gandhi’s steadfastness against American might rather than attempting to discredit her legacy.
A senior Congress leader posted on social media, "India faced down America's pressure with resilience during the 1970s, most notably during Indira Gandhi’s era. Modi needs to abandon his arrogance and take inspiration from the way she confronted America. India's foreign policy and administration require a comprehensive reshuffle."
In response to Trump announcing an additional tariff (now totaling 50%) on Indian goods, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh used social media to remind Prime Minister Modi of how Indira Gandhi stared President Nixon in the eye before the 1971 war with Pakistan. He labeled Trump’s actions as a stark failure of Modi’s individualistic and headline-grabbing "hug diplomacy."
Jairam Ramesh continued, "Despite claiming friendship with Modi, Trump has dealt India a harsh and unjust blow. His tariff measures are unacceptable and highlight the failure of Modi's personalistic and headline-grabbing diplomacy."
Rahul Gandhi's sharp comment on Modi...
Conversely, Rahul Gandhi urged Prime Minister Modi not to allow his personal weaknesses to overshadow India's interests and to stand firm against Trump’s pressure. His post states, "A 50% tariff is economic blackmail, a coercion towards an unfair trade deal. Modi should not let his weaknesses affect the interests of Indian citizens."
'Preference for Pakistan and Bangladesh over India...'
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor voiced concerns over Trump's tariff increase to 50%, highlighting that much of Indian goods will become "inaccessible to many in the U.S."
Speaking with journalists, Tharoor asserted, "This isn't particularly beneficial news for us, now pushing our total tariff to 50%, limiting U.S. consumer access to our goods." Tharoor stressed that American consumers would turn towards countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan, where tariffs are relatively lower.
'Trade for Ceasefire'...
Bihar's former Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav commented, "America's 50% tariff imposition on India is a form of trade bullying, weaponizing trade against sovereign nations. It's disappointing that Modi, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal haven't strongly opposed this."
He further stated, "India’s quietness on Trump's 'trade for ceasefire' claims was a mistake. It’s time we emphasized our trade policy sovereignty and stood firm against economic pressure. India can’t shift its policy priorities under stress."
India's Firm Response to US Tariffs...
In retaliation to the additional 25% tariff by Donald Trump on Indian imports due to oil purchases from Russia, India has openly criticized the step as 'unfair.' India vows to make every effort to protect its national interests.
Earlier, President Trump had warned of repercussions for purchasing oil from Russia and announced an additional 25% trade tariff on India, effective from August 27, bringing the total to 50%.
