India-US Trade Deal: The Congress on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi government after US President Donald Trump publicly announced key details of an India-US trade understanding, including oil purchases and tariff cuts.
Trump said India had agreed to buy oil from the United States and halt imports of Russian oil. He also claimed Washington would reduce tariffs on imports from India from 25 per cent to 18 per cent. The announcement came late Monday night, shortly after Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke over the phone.
‘Can’t Be the Father of All Deals’
The opposition party questioned why such a significant development was revealed from Washington rather than by the Indian government. Congress General Secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said Trump, not New Delhi, had once again broken news related to India.
Taking to X, Ramesh said that after the halt of Operation Sindoor, Trump had again made a major announcement concerning India from the US capital. He alleged that the former US president appeared to have leverage over Prime Minister Modi.
“President Trump clearly seems to have some leverage over Prime Minister Modi, who is now mortified of even being seen with him, let alone engage in the usual bout of hugs. It appears Mr. Modi has capitulated finally. Surely this cannot be the father of all deals,” Ramesh wrote.
“In Washington clearly Mogambo khush hai,” he added, using a popular cultural reference to underline his criticism.
‘Trump-Nirbharta’: Congress’s Fresh Jibe
The Congress also took aim at the Centre earlier in the day after the US ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, confirmed that Trump had spoken with Modi. In a post on X, Gor said, “President Trump just spoke with Prime Minister Modi. STAY TUNED.”
Reacting to that post, Ramesh said it was notable that confirmation of the conversation came from the US side rather than the Indian government.
“It seems that Prime Minister Modi and President Trump spoke to each other today. This information has been provided not by the Indian side but by the US Ambassador to India,” he said.
Ramesh added that this had become a pattern, with India learning about its government’s actions through Trump or his appointees. “This now seems to be the routine — India gets to know of its government’s actions only from President Trump or his appointees. Trump-nirbharta,” he said.
The government has not responded to the Congress’s remarks so far.
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