Modi Govt must stand up to U.S., tariff removal on American goods will destroy economy: Congress

Congress leader Ajoy Kumar criticizes PM Modi for not standing up to Trump's "humiliation" over reciprocal tariffs, F-35 deal.

Flagging U.S. President Donald Trump's push for reciprocal tariffs, the Congress on Thursday (February 27, 2025) said the Modi government must stand up to the "humiliation" and tell its American counterpart that such moves would not be acceptable to India as they would "destroy" the country's economy.

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At a press conference, Congress leader Ajoy Kumar played video snippets from French President Emmanuel Macron's meeting with Mr. Trump and also Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with the U.S. President to claim that the Indian PM remained "mum" even when the U.S. President was "speaking ill of India".

"We have seen French President Emmanuel Macron correcting Trump in conversation and telling him he is wrong. On the other hand, in front of Narendra Modi, Trump kept speaking ill of India.

"He keeps calling India a tariff violator, we will impose reciprocal tariffs, but Narendra Modi remained silent," Kumar said at the presser at the AICC office at 24, Akbar Road.

Mr. Kumar said Mr. Modi calls Mr. Trump his best friend but he "constantly tries to humiliate India".

"The BJP people never get tired of calling Narendra Modi a 'Vishwa Guru' but when PM Modi went on a tour to America, Trump did not even come to receive PM Modi," he said.