Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, alleging that the PM had capitulated to external pressure. Gandhi's sharp remarks came in direct response to recent statements made by former US President Donald Trump regarding India's foreign and trade policies.
Trump's Claims Trigger Political Firestorm
The controversy ignited after Donald Trump, addressing a House GOP Member Retreat, recounted an interaction with PM Modi. Trump claimed that Modi had sought an audience with him, saying, "Prime Minister Modi came to see me, 'Sir, may I see you please'. Yes." The former US President also highlighted trade tensions, stating India was "paying a lot of tariffs now" and had "reduced" its purchase of Russian oil "substantially."
Reacting swiftly, Rahul Gandhi posted a video message on social media platform X with the caption "Fark Samjhiye sirji." In his message, Gandhi accused the BJP-RSS leadership of buckling under pressure. "I know these BJP–RSS people very well now. Put a little pressure on them, give them a little push and they run away in fear," he stated.
A Stark Comparison with Indira Gandhi's Era
Gandhi drew a pointed historical parallel to underscore his criticism. He referenced the 1971 Indo-Pak war, when the United States Seventh Fleet was deployed to the Bay of Bengal. "In the 1971 war, the Seventh Fleet came, weapons came, an aircraft carrier came. Indira Gandhi ji said, 'I will do what I have to do.' This is the difference," Gandhi asserted, contrasting the current leadership's approach with what he portrayed as the resolute stance of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
He directly linked Trump's signals to Modi's actions, alleging, "As soon as Trump signalled from there, they picked up the phone and said, 'What are you doing Modi ji?' Narendra surrendered and with 'yes sir', Narendra Modi ji followed Trump’s signal."
The Core Issues: Tariffs and Russian Oil
The friction centers on significant trade measures. Trump has imposed tariffs totalling 50% on Indian exports, which include a specific 25% levy connected to India's procurement of Russian oil. These tariffs, introduced in August, have led to multiple rounds of trade negotiations and at least four conversations between the two leaders, though a final bilateral trade deal remains elusive.
Trump acknowledged the strain, saying, "I have a very good relationship with him. He’s not that happy with me because they’re paying a lot of tariffs now because they’re not doing the oil — but they are, they’ve now reduced it very substantially." Separately, Trump also mentioned that India had raised concerns about delays in the delivery of Apache helicopters, claiming a wait time of five years.
This exchange has amplified the political discourse in New Delhi, framing India's diplomatic and economic decisions within a narrative of national resolve versus perceived submission. The opposition's framing seeks to question the government's strategic autonomy on the global stage, using a historic moment of Indian foreign policy as its benchmark.
