PM Narendra Modi.
Photo Credit: Sansad TV
New Delhi: As US President Donald Trump announced 25 per cent tariff on India and an oil deal with Pakistan, the Opposition on Thursday pounced on Narendra Modi over his “silence”, with top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claiming that everybody except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman know that the Indian economy is “dead”.
Rahul told reporters a trade deal with the US will happen and Trump will define it, while Modi will do what the American President tells him to do. His remarks came as he was asked about Trump’s imposition of tariff and remarks that India and Russia are “dead economies”.
“He (Trump) is right, everybody knows this except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. Everybody knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. I am glad that President Trump has stated a fact,” he said.
“The whole world knows that the Indian economy is dead, and it has been destroyed by the BJP. Why was it destroyed? To help Adani. So why do you all look so surprised?” he said adding whether anyone has asked themselves why Modi is unable to respond.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said Modi has observed a vow of silence in Parliament on Trump’s statement on ceasefire and “now, on the baseless allegations Trump has made against India, will Modi remain silent on those too?”
Samajwadi Party chief said this government has kept making claims of friendship with the US for the last 11 years. “This is the beginning of ‘bure din’ (bad days). The youth of this country need jobs. If the economy improves, employment will be available. If there are such hindrances, what will happen to the economy of our country?”
However, BSP chief Mayawati said, “despite US President Donald Trump calling India a 'friend', the decision to impose 25 per cent tariff...presents a new challenge. The central government must convert this into an opportunity to push self-reliance and ensure that the economy remains unaffected."
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said the US even talks about a 100% tariff and it would destroy India's trade with America. He said it could be “bargaining tactics” as the trade negotiations are still on and it may come down in due course. “If it doesn't, it will damage our exports,” he said.
Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said Trump said the Prime Minister promised “acche din (good days)”.
Modi “once spoke of the TOP (Tomato, Onion, Potato) challenge in prices. Now India has to contend with the political challenge arising out of CAP (China, America, Pakistan). He invested very heavily in his personal friendship with President Trump, as he had done earlier with President Xi. Both have the full measure of the man now--someone who can be managed easily by playing to his gigantic ego and self-obsession”, he said.
Congress Media and Publicity Department Chairman Pawan Khera said, "The Modi government and its visionary foreign minister deserve a standing ovation! In their frantic race to gain America's approval, they’ve spurned old friends — and now America has signed an oil deal with Pakistan. To top it off, it says with a laugh: 'Who knows, maybe one day Pakistan will sell oil to India!' They promised good days, and what all days they’re showing us."