‘He is mocking, insulting India': Leaders react after Trump imposes 25% tariff on Indian imports

Donald Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on India along with a penalty. (Image credit: AP)

Hours after US President Donald Trump announced that “friend” India will be paying a 25 per cent tariff from August 1, several opposition leaders slammed the BJP government for its inability to stave off the India-centric tariffs.

The Congress party slammed the BJP government as US President Donald Trump slapped India with 25 per cent tariffs on Wednesday. In a post on X, the Congress party wrote, "country is now bearing the cost of Narendra Modi's 'friendship'.

"Trump slapped a 25% tariff on India, along with a penalty. The country is now bearing the cost of Narendra Modi's 'friendship'. Modi campaigned for Trump, hugged him eagerly, posed for photos, and made it trend on social media. In the end, Trump still imposed tariffs on India. India's foreign policy has completely failed," the party said.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh spoke about the tariff threats and accused PM Modi of "insulting India every day", adding, "He has even threatened Apple against manufacturing iPhones in India. He has even gone on to say that he loves Pakistan and India should think about it. PM Narendra Modi should strongly oppose this move and make his next step clear."

Taking a jibe at PM Modi, Trinamool Congress's (TMC) Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien shared a video of the prime minister and Trump on X. In a post on the microblogging platform, he said, "56 is less than 25! Now what will 56 inch say about the brutal 25 percent Trump tariff. Remember this...."

Congress MP Rajiv Shukla said it was a wrong step by the United States. Also Read | Donald Trump's full statement announcing 25% tariffs, plus penalty on India: ‘All things not good…’ “The government considers Trump a friend, but he has actually slapped us; Indian businessmen will suffer due to this. We will raise all issues in Parliament,” he said.

Meanwhile, Trump's announcement also led to reactions from the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) as BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal said, Certainly, the Government of India will take cognisance of it. We have to wait and watch how the Government of India reacts to it. In my personal opinion, it is unfortunate."

Also, not an opposition party though but the Indian regional party, TDP, also reacted on the matter as TDP MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu said, "...I think we will absorb this. In the long run, the American markets will realise and definitely reduce the tariffs...We have to see how this will impact..."