Economic Blackmail: Rahul Gandhi Blasts Trump’s Tariffs, Goes After Modi
NEW DELHI, India – August 7, 2025: Things are heating up! Congress leader Rahul Gandhi just went after the U.S.’s new 50% tariff on Indian goods, calling it economic blackmail. He thinks it’s a ploy to bully India into a bad trade deal. He didn’t stop there; he directly attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming he’s too weak to stand up to the U.S. President.
Gandhi’s Strong Words
Gandhi, who’s also a big name in the Lok Sabha, didn’t hold back on X, criticizing the Trump administration’s trade moves. He zeroed in on the order that slaps an extra 25% tariff on top of an existing one, bringing the total to a whopping 50%.
Trump’s 50% tariff is straight-up economic blackmail—trying to bully India into a raw deal, Gandhi posted. He also warned that PM Modi better not let his weakness hurt the Indian people.
Accusations Fly at PM Modi
Gandhi went further, linking Modi’s supposed inaction to another issue. He claims Modi can’t stand up to President Trump because of a US investigation into Adani.
According to Gandhi, the U.S. is threatening to expose the money ties between Modi, AA, and Russian oil deals. He thinks this has tied Modi’s hands, stopping him from pushing back against the tariffs.
The Nitty-Gritty on the U.S. Tariffs
The new 25% tariff on Indian goods is set to kick in on August 27, 2025. The U.S. government says these tariffs are a punishment for India buying Russian crude oil at a discount. They argue this helps fund Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
This puts India in a tough spot. The 50% tariff is way higher than what other U.S. trading partners face. It’s expected to hit India’s export industries hard.
India’s Official Take
India’s government, through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), is playing it cool but firm. The MEA has called the U.S. tariffs unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.
The government is sticking to its story that its oil buys are driven by market factors to keep its 1.4 billion citizens supplied with energy. They’ve also pointed out that other countries, even some U.S. allies, are still trading with Russia, making the move against India seem out of line.
The Big Picture
This political clash comes at a tricky time for the economy and diplomacy. The tariffs threaten to mess up a partnership that’s been carefully built for years to push back against China in the Indo-Pacific region.
Gandhi’s statement has kicked off a big debate about India’s foreign and economic game plan. The U.S. has warned against any payback, but the Indian government has promised to take all actions needed to protect its national interests, which suggests a long trade fight might be on the way.
The next few weeks will be key. What happens in this trade standoff could seriously affect India’s economy, its place in the world, and the Modi government’s ability to handle tough situations on the global stage.
