New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi Thursday said he agrees with US President Donald Trump’s assessment of the Indian economy, adding that the “entire world knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy”.
Rahul’s remarks, which drew a sharp rebuke from the BJP, were in contrast to the stance taken by many Congress leaders, including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, who termed Trump’s allegations as “baseless”, saying “nation comes first and we are always with the nation”.
Hours after announcing that India will pay a 25 percent tariff on goods exported to the US plus a penalty on trade with Russia, Trump posted on Truth Social, a company owned by him, that “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care”.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Rahul said that he was “glad” the US President had stated a “fact” that, according to him, everyone except Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is aware of. “Yes, he 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. Do you guys not know that the Indian economy is a dead economy? Is there any confusion in this? The entire world knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy and the BJP has killed the economy,” Rahul said.
He also wrote on X that “Modi killed” the Indian economy, listing the “Adani-Modi partnership”, demonetisation and a “flawed GST” (goods and services tax) among the factors.
Kharge, on the other hand, issued a measured statement, while not refraining from taking calculated digs at the PM and the ruling establishment.
“Modiji had observed a ‘Maun Vrat’ in Parliament on Donald Trump’s statements on CEASEFIRE. Will Modiji remain silent on the baseless allegations made by Trump on India?
Narendra Modiji, nation comes first and we are always with the nation,” he posted on X in Hindi.
The steep US tariffs, said Kharge, will harm Indian trade, adversely affect medium and small-scale industries, farmers, and industries.
“Your ministers have been talking about negotiating a trade deal with America for months. Some of them camped in Washington for several days. This is how your friend, ‘Namaste Trump’ and ‘Abki Baar Trump Sarkar’ rewarded our country for your friendship?” he added.
Congress Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor said the imposition of tariffs was a matter of serious concern for India and could be a bargaining tactic, given the ongoing negotiations, deployed by the US.
“America is a significant market for us. If their demands are entirely unreasonable, our negotiators have every right to resist. I wish our negotiators good luck and courage, as we cannot afford to buckle under pressure; we must prioritise our national interests,” Tharoor said. His remarks were also posted by the Congress from its official account on X.
Another Lok Sabha MP of the party, Saptagiri Ulaka, told reporters outside Parliament that India “shouldn’t be afraid; instead, we should stand strong against Donald Trump”.
Karti Chidambaram, who represents the Sivaganga Lok Sabha constituency, also advised the government to remain calm and continue negotiations with the US.
“Trump is not a conventional politician. Normal protocols of diplomacy and standard rules of intergovernmental relationships don’t work. He is very unorthodox. We should let him be for now. We shouldn’t panic immediately. These are just opening positions in a negotiation. I hope the government remains calm, continues to negotiate, and reaches an understanding with the US,” he told the media.
Speaking to reporters, Congress’ Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Shukla asserted that “the Indian economy is not dead”.
“Economic reforms were made when P.V. Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh were there. Atal Bihari Vajpayee took those reforms forward. Manmohan Singh strengthened it in 10 years. The current government has also worked on it. Our economic condition is not at all weak. If someone claims they can finish us economically, it’s likely due to a misunderstanding. Trump is living in a delusion. Imposing tariffs is wrong.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said on X: “Not that one needs to say it, there’s enough legitimate data available to know that Indian economy is in the top 5 of the world and one of the fastest growing economies. Calling it a dead economy can only come from a position of arrogance or ignorance.”
Also Read: India must not retaliate to Trump’s tariff tactic. Secure interim deal, fix internal issues
‘What success?’
Speaking outside Parliament, Rahul, who Tuesday threw a challenge to the PM to declare on the floor of the Lok Sabha that Trump was lying about brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, said there was a reason behind Modi’s inability to respond to the US President’s claims on ceasefire or the latest imposition of tariffs.
“Trump has said 30-32 times that he brokered the ceasefire and he also said that five Indian fighter jets went down. Trump is now saying that he will impose 25 percent tariffs. Have you asked yourself why Modi is not being able to respond? What is the actual reason? What do you think? Who holds the control?” he asked.
He alleged that the Indian economy, defence and foreign policies have been “destroyed” by the Modi government. Trump will determine the shape of New Delhi’s trade agreement with Washington, talks for which are under way, he alleged.
“You people (media) want to talk about other issues, but they are running this country to the ground. The PM only works for one person: Adani. They have destroyed small businesses. This deal will take place and Trump will define how this deal will be shaped and Modi will do exactly what Trump says,” said Rahul.
“The external affairs minister says that we have a genius foreign policy. On the one hand, the US is abusing you, on the other hand, China is after you. When you send delegations across the globe, not one country condemns Pakistan. They are not capable of running the country. There is total confusion. The Pakistan army chief, who orchestrated the Pahalgam attack, is having lunch with Trump and these people claim that they have been successful. What success are they talking about?” he added.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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