Zoho co-founder and chief scientist Sridhar Vembu has urged India’s political class to exercise restraint in foreign policy, warning against antagonizing powerful nations amid rising global tensions. His comments come in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s announcement of steep tariffs and penalties targeting India over its trade and defense ties with Russia.
Vembu, a vocal advocate of tech sovereignty, said India must strike a balance between building advanced capabilities and maintaining international goodwill. “It is not in our national interest to pick fights with powerful nations,” he posted on X. “As a wise statesman counselled, ‘we must bide our time.’”
He acknowledged the government’s efforts, saying, “Our government and our Prime Minister are doing a commendable job,” while emphasising the need to harness India’s demographic advantage over the next two decades. “We have favorable demographics and we have to use all that youthful talent,” he said, adding that Zoho is investing heavily in multiple areas of technology.
Vembu’s remarks follow Trump’s declaration on Wednesday that India would face a 25 percent tariff on imports, along with an unspecified “penalty” for its purchases of Russian weapons and energy. “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, accusing India of imposing excessively high tariffs and contributing little to bilateral trade.
The measures, part of a broader tariff hike set to take effect Friday, have sparked concern among Indian business leaders and policymakers. New Delhi is yet to issue an official response.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
