'You can't even blame Congress': Kharge to PM Modi on Trump's 50% tariff

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being responsible for US President Donald Trump's imposition of 50% import tariffs on India.

"You can't even blame this foreign policy disaster on the 70 years of Congress," Kharge said in a post on X.

According to the Congress leader, Trump has been planning "reciprocal tariffs" since months now. We all knew about it. You did nothing in the Union Budget to soften the blow on our key sectors such as Agriculture, MSMEs and various industries.

India's national interest is supreme. Any nation that arbitrarily penalises India for our time-tested policy of strategic autonomy, which is embedded in the ideology of Non-alignment, doesn't understand the steel frame India is made of.

From the threats of 7th fleet to the…

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) August 7, 2025

“You kept mum when Trump claimed that he BROKERED the CEASEFIRE. He has claimed at least 30 times and counting. 2. On November 30, 2024, Trump had threatened to impose a 100% tariff on BRICS nations. PM Modi was sitting there, visibly smirking, while Trump declared BRICS dead,” said Kharge.

He also said the PM "failed to negotiate a trade deal with the US". You had more than six months. "Now Mr. Trump is intimidating and coercing us - but you keep quiet," said Kharge.

According to the Congress chief,  India’s exports to the US amounts to about Rs 7.51 lakh crore (2024). A blanket 50% tariff means an economic burden of Rs 3.75 lakh crore.

"Our sectors like — MSMEs, Agriculture, Dairy Engineering Goods, Electronic Goods, Gems & Jewellery, Drug Formulations & Biologicals, Petroleum Products and Cotton made clothes shall be hurt the most. Your Govt is CLUELESS how to deal with it," he said.

Trump’s sweeping set of tariffs targeting more than 90 countries came into force just after midnight Thursday.  “It’s midnight! Billions of dollars in tariffs are now flowing into the United States of America!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

In an earlier post on Wednesday, Trump had said: “Reciprocal tariffs take effect at midnight tonight! Billions of dollars, largely from countries that have taken advantage of the United States for many years, laughing all the way, will start flowing into the USA.”

PM Modi on Thursday said India would not compromise on the interests of its farmers, livestock rearers, and fishermen.

“India will never compromise on the interests of its farmers, livestock rearers, and fishermen brothers and sisters. I know personally that I will have to pay a heavy price for this, but I am prepared for it. India stands firmly with its farmers, and I am ready to face whatever it takes for their welfare," PM Modi said, underscoring his government’s resolve to shield rural communities despite mounting international pressure.