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Congress Calls Out Modi’s ‘Mismanagement’ as Trump Hits India with New Tariffs

Jairam Ramesh
Jairam Ramesh

After US President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on Indian imports starting 1 August, the Congress party criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of mismanaging foreign policy and weakening India’s global position.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the Prime Minister once spoke about solving the “TOP” problems—Tomato, Onion, and Potato prices—but now India is facing a much bigger political crisis, which he called “CAP”—China, America, and Pakistan.

“President Trump is piling pressure on India,” Ramesh said in a post on X. “Since 10 May, Trump has repeatedly claimed to have stopped ‘Operation Sindoor’ and even hosted the Pakistan army chief and the planner of the Pahalgam attacks for lunch at the White House.”

He pointed out that on 30 July, Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on Indian goods and an additional penalty because India continues to buy oil and defence equipment from Russia. “On top of that, at least six Indian companies are now facing US sanctions for dealing with Iran,” Ramesh added.

He also criticised Trump’s decision to help Pakistan develop its oil and gas reserves, saying it came alongside US support for international loans to Pakistan from the World Bank and IMF.

“Modi once claimed to have close personal ties with President Trump, just like he did with President Xi of China,” Ramesh said. “But now both leaders seem to have understood Modi—someone who can be easily influenced by playing to his ego.”

Trump, in his post announcing the tariffs, called India’s trade policies “most strenuous and obnoxious” and said, “All things not good! India will therefore be paying a tariff of 25 percent, plus a penalty for the above, starting on August first.”

This penalty marks the first time the US has taken such an action against a country for buying oil and weapons from Russia. While China, the biggest buyer of Russian oil, hasn’t faced such penalties, India now finds itself under pressure.

Congress leaders say this development exposes the failure of Modi’s foreign policy and urge him to take a stronger stance, much like former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi did during her time in office.

“The Prime Minister must now show real leadership and not just rely on headline-grabbing friendships,” Ramesh said.

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