NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday for being focused on “tareef” rather than addressing tariff issues, questioning the PM’s assertiveness in handling US threats regarding reciprocal tariffs.
“Our prime minister wants to hear only ‘tareef (praise)’, he is not concerned about tariffs. ‘Tareef kum, aur tariff pe baat kijiye (talk about the tariffs issue and less about your praise),” Ramesh said in an interview with PTI.
Ramesh indicated that the Congress would address Trump’s reciprocal tariff threats in the upcoming Budget session’s second half, advocating for a unified approach to counter these challenges. The Budget Session’s second phase commences Monday and concludes April 4.
Ramesh also took a jab at external affairs minister S Jaishankar, claiming he speaks more like an American representative than an Indian minister.
Ramesh criticised Trump’s approach to international trade, noting that the established WTO framework, negotiated with 170 countries, is being disregarded in favour of Trump’s individual interpretation of trade relations. “‘You tariff, I tariff’, that is not the way international trade functions. These rules have been negotiated. The WTO is World Trade Organisation not World Trump Organisation,” he said.
Ramesh also expressed concern over the deportation of illegal Indian immigrants from the US, noting that while smaller nations voice their concerns, India’s leadership remains silent. He referenced Indira Gandhi‘s firm stance against President Nixon in November 1971 as an example of protecting national interests. He criticised the government’s approach to all-party meetings and highlighted the issue of Indian deportees from the US, particularly noting the treatment of migrants from Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat.
“He should speak frankly…Trump is threatening a country like India. The prime minister talks about having a ’56-inch chest’, where is his ’56-inch chest’ now. Remember what Indira Gandhi had told President (Richard) Nixon in November 1971. President Nixon and Henry Kissinger had tried to defame India but Indira Gandhi stood up and said ‘I will do what is in the interest of India’,” Ramesh said.
Trump’s tariff threat to India
Trump recently addressed Congress, pointing at India’s tariffs and announcing reciprocal measures starting next month. In his address, he referenced the US-India trade deficit of nearly $100 billion.
Trump criticised the tariffs levied by India and other nations, including China, labelling them as “very unfair”. Trump expressed his intention to implement equivalent tariffs on foreign imports as those nations impose on US exports.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is currently engaged in trade discussions with US counterpart Howard Lutnick in Washington, over the issue.
Before the Congress address, Trump, in December, talked about his plan to implement reciprocal taxation policies towards India. Previously having labelled India as “tariff king”, he criticised New Delhi for imposing “high tariffs” on products manufactured in America.