The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha also claimed that a trade deal with the US will happen and Trump will define it, while PM Modi will do what the American President tells him to do
Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said everybody except Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman know that the Indian economy is “dead”, as he alleged that the BJP-led government has destroyed the country’s economic, defence and foreign policies. Speaking with reporters in the Parliament House complex, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha also claimed that a trade deal with the US will happen and Trump will define it, while PM Modi will do what the American President tells him to do.
Gandhi’s remarks came after US President Donald Trump announced the imposition of 25 per cent tariff and penalties on India and called India and Russia “dead economies”. Asked about Trump calling the Indian economy “dead”, Gandhi said, “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.”
Gandhi alleged that the BJP has destroyed the Indian economy in order to help billionaire Gautam Adani. He said the main issue in front of India today is that the government has “destroyed” the country’s economic, defence and foreign policies. In a post on X, Gandhi said, “THE INDIAN ECONOMY IS DEAD. Modi killed it. 1.Adani-Modi partnership. 2. Demonetisation and a flawed GST 3. Failed ‘Assemble in India’ 4. MSMEs wiped out.5. Farmers crushed.” He alleged that Modi has destroyed the future of India’s youth because there are no jobs.
Bargaining tactic
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said it may be just a “bargaining tactic” as trade negotiations are on, and asserted that “we must give strong support to our negotiators” to find the best possible deal. Tharoor, however, added that if a good deal is not possible, “we may have to walk away”.
Harm to country’s trade
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that the tariff along with the penalty will harm the country’s trade; MSMEs and farmers will also be adversely affected. Many industries will suffer heavy losses.
‘Govt examining implications’
India will take all necessary steps to safeguard and promote national interest, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. In a suo motu statement in both the houses of Parliament, he said, the government is examining the implications of these US’s tariffs and is in consultation with all stakeholders, including farmers, exporters, MSMEs and industry bodies, on the tariffs.
Piyush Goyal
“The Government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, workers, entrepreneurs, exporters, MSMEs and all sections of industry. We will take all necessary steps to secure and advance our national interest,” he said.
The two countries are negotiating a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) from March this year with an aim to more than double the bilateral trade in goods and services to $500 billion by 2030 from the current $191 billion. So far five rounds of talks have been completed.For the sixth round of talks, the US team will be visiting India from August 25. They are aiming to conclude the first phase of the agreement by fall (October-November) this year.
India and the US entered into negotiations for a fair, balanced and beneficial bilateral trade agreement in March 2025, with the first phase of the agreement to be completed by fall of 2025, Goyal said. The minister added that in just over a decade, India has rapidly transformed from being one of the Fragile 5 to the fastest growing major economy in the world.
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