Kharge Slams Modi Over Trump’s Tariffs, Calls It a Foreign Policy Failure

Mallkarjun Kharge posts on X National interest for India comes first. Whoever wants to punish us for maintaining our long-held principle of strategic autonomy-a principle deeply embedded in the non-alignment doctrine-clearly does not comprehend the resilience of India's sovereign identity. We have seen turbulent times in our relationship with the United States, ranging from the hostile posture of the 7th Fleet to sanctions following the nuclear tests, all the while upholding our dignity and self-esteem.

Thus, we find ourselves looking with a degree of diplomatic uncertainty with a sweeping imposition of a 50% tariff, courtesy of former US President Donald Trump-a serious threat India faces to its economy and global trade standing. This is no longer only an economic issue; it is a challenge to our strategically important positioning.

PM Modi's Inaction Has Brought to Us a Trade Crisis

@narendramodi ji, your silence and inaction have brought us just on the edge of a trade disaster:

• Having No Response to Such Ceasefire Claims: When you were busy sitting and observing while the former president of the United States, Donald Trump, made at least 30 false claims that he had brokered a ceasefire that involved India, there was silence.

• Ignoring at BRICS: You put up merry faces when Trump threatened on 100% tariffs against BRICS nations on 30 November 2024 when "BRICS is dead" was prematurely stated by Trump, while you did offer a counter and a clarification.

• No Precautionary Measures to Protect the Economy: Although Trump was hinting at "reciprocal tariffs" being in store for several months, your government did nothing in the Union Budget to protect vulnerable sectors such as Agriculture, MSMEs and key industries.

• Evangelism Failed: Although Indo-US trade agreement promises were made by your ministers elaborately engaging Washington, your government did not ratify any such arrangement.

• Severely Affecting Economy: Exports into the US from India were ₹7.51 lakh crore in 2024; the blanket 50% tariff will cut down as much as ₹3.75 lakh crore from export earnings directly affecting some of the most critical sectors, such as MSMEs, agriculture, dairy, engineering goods, electronics, gems and jewelry, pharmaceuticals, petroleum products and textiles.

It is not the Congress policies of the past that make the trade crisis today. It is simply a mischief done by this government in diplomacy and estrange trade. This country is now in the grip of economic coercion, and you don't have a plan to challenge it.