NEW DELHI, Mar 7: Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, claiming that the PM is more focused on receiving praise than addressing tariff concerns. Ramesh questioned the lack of Modi’s “56-inch chest” when it comes to tackling US threats regarding reciprocal tariffs.
In an interview with PTI, Ramesh announced that the Congress party would bring up President Donald Trump’s tariff threats during the second half of the Budget session, advocating for a united bipartisan effort to confront these challenges.
He further alleged that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar speaks as if he were a spokesperson for the US. “Our Prime Minister only wants to hear praise; he is indifferent to tariffs. ‘Less praise, more talk about tariffs,’” Ramesh stated.
He emphasized that Trump is completely reshaping international trade norms, labeling the US President’s idea of reciprocal tariffs as “bizarre.” “We agreed on a tariff schedule with 170 countries when we established the World Trade Organization in 1995, after a decade of negotiations. Now, Trump introduces his own strange interpretation of international commerce,” Ramesh remarked.
“Saying ‘you tariff, I tariff’ is not how international trade operates. The WTO stands for the World Trade Organization, not the World Trump Organization,” he added.
Ramesh criticized the government over how Indian migrants were deported from the US, noting that even smaller nations voice their concerns while the PM remains silent. “He should speak honestly… Trump is issuing threats to India. The Prime Minister boasts a ’56-inch chest’; where is that now? Remember Indira Gandhi’s strong stance with President Nixon in 1971. While Nixon and Kissinger attempted to undermine India, she stood firm and declared, ‘I will act in India’s interest,’” Ramesh recalled.
Ramesh declared that this is a matter of national interest. He accused Modi of being too friendly with Trump, saying, “While our Prime Minister engages in ‘Namaste Trump’ and embraces him, we’ll be raising the tariff issue in Parliament, having already addressed the concerns of Indian citizens.”
He stressed that Trump’s actions against India represent a serious issue that threatens India’s sovereignty. Ramesh pointed out that the Prime Minister’s silence in Parliament regarding these matters is concerning and that Jaishankar behaves like a US spokesperson rather than an Indian Minister.
“The US lacks an ambassador, yet our External Affairs Minister communicates as if he is representing the US,” Ramesh remarked. He stressed the need for a unified response to US tariff threats.
In his critique of the government, Ramesh noted a lack of all-party meetings, and when they do occur, the discussions often devolve into lectures from the External Affairs Minister and Home Minister.
“During the first half of the Budget session, we forcefully raised the issue regarding the degrading manner in which Indian citizens were deported from the US, restrained and handcuffed,” Ramesh said, highlighting that many deported migrants hailed from Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat, noting politically charged motives behind their landing in Amritsar. The first half of the Budget Session ran from January 31 to February 13, while the second half resumes on Monday and will conclude on April 4.
Trump has frequently criticized India’s tariffs. In his recent address to Congress at the start of his second term, he labeled these tariffs as “very unfair.” In his remarks, he announced that reciprocal tariffs would be implemented the following month and mentioned a trade deficit with India nearing USD 100 billion, also indicating plans to negotiate a resolution of ongoing trade discrepancies.
Currently, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is engaged in trade discussions with his US counterpart Howard Lutnick in Washington. According to US estimates, total goods trade between the US and India reached approximately USD 129.2 billion in 2024, with US goods exports to India increasing to USD 41.8 billion, a 3.4% rise from 2023. US imports from India amounted to USD 87.4 billion in 2024, reflecting a 4.5% increase. The resulting US goods trade deficit with India stood at USD 45.7 billion, showing a 5.4% growth from the previous year. (PTI)
