US Tariffs: 'Nothing was gained from Trump's friendship...', opposition targeted the Modi government over US tariffs

Posted on 31st Jul 2025 by rohit kumar

Opposition parties on Wednesday attacked the central government after US President Donald Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs and fines on Indian goods. They said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's friendship with Trump has not yielded any results.

 

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Modi should take inspiration from former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and stand up to the US President. He wrote on social media platform X, "Trump has imposed 25 per cent tariffs and fines on imports from India. All the 'compliments' between him and Modi, programmes like 'Howdy Modi' have had no effect."

 

Ramesh said Modi thought if he kept quiet on the insulting comments made by the US President on India, like stopping Operation Sindoor, giving a special dinner to the Pakistani army chief, getting Pakistan's help from the IMF and World Bank, then India would get special status from the US. But nothing of that sort happened.

 

He said PM Modi should take inspiration from Indira Gandhi and stand up to the US President. In another post, Jairam Ramesh wrote that Modi suddenly stopped Operation Sindoor on the evening of May 10 in the hope that a good trade agreement would be reached with Trump. But no such agreement has been reached so far. So what was the benefit of bowing down?

 

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien shared a video of Prime Minister Modi and President Trump and said, 56 inches is less than 25! What will 56 inches say now on this 25% tariff of Trump? Remember this… In the video, Modi is seen taking on the Trump government this time.

 

The government should accept its shortcomings, take everyone into confidence: Manoj Jha

RJD MP in Rajya Sabha, Manoj Jha, said in the Parliament premises, we are sad that all this is happening under the rule of Prime Minister Modi. The government should accept its shortcomings, take everyone into confidence, and show that India is a strong country.

 

On one hand, there are talks on trade agreements, on the other hand, India is being insulted: P. Santosh Kumar

CPI MP P. Santosh Kumar called Trump's decision an insult to India. He said, This is another insult to India and its reputation. On one hand, there is talk of a trade agreement; on the other hand, Trump is insulting India's interests.

 

Prime Minister should explain why Parliament was not taken into confidence: Tiruchi Siva

DMK leader Tiruchi Siva said that only the Prime Minister has the right to answer on this issue. He said, the Prime Minister should tell what happened, why it happened, and what its impact will be on India. Parliament was not taken into confidence on this.

 

PM Modi was busy collecting awards, image building was the priority: Manickam Tagore

Congress leader Manickam Tagore said, This is the failure of the Modi government. The Foreign Minister has failed. What happened to slogans like 'Howdy Modi', 'Abki Baar Trump Sarkar'? Modi was busy collecting awards everywhere, and building his image was his priority instead of India's interests. This is why India looks weak.

 

Until the Modi government bows down, America will keep blackmailing: Dipankar Bhattacharya.

 

CPI (ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya wrote on Facebook that Trump is punishing India not only for its high tariffs and trade barriers, but also for buying military equipment and energy from Russia. This means that America wants India to become completely dependent on it. Can there be a bigger attack on India's sovereignty than this? The more the Modi government bows down and remains silent, the more America will keep blackmailing.

 

Open attempt to twist India's foreign policy, BJP silent: D Raja

 

CPI general secretary D Raja said that Trump has claimed at least 30 times that he used trade as a weapon in the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. He said, This is an open attempt to twist India's foreign policy, but the BJP is silent. Raja wrote on X, what is the answer of the Modi government? Not a single word. No protest. Neither the Prime Minister nor any minister dares to condemn Trump in Parliament. The Prime Minister should speak. It is time for India to re-establish its political independence, economic sovereignty, and moral strength.

 

Donald Trump intended to impose tariffs from the beginning: Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy.

 

Congress MP Mallu Ravi said that Trump is threatening the Indian government, and this is not acceptable at all. Another Congress MP, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, said that Modi claims that Trump is his best friend, but Trump intended to impose tariffs on India from the beginning. He demanded that the government immediately enter into a trade agreement with the US, as this would affect India's exports and economy.

 

Trump announces a 25 percent tariff on Indian goods.

 

Donald Trump has announced that impose 25 percent tariffs on India from August 1. This decision has come at a time when talks between India and the US on a bilateral trade agreement are stalled. In his statement, Trump cited India's high tariffs, huge military and energy purchases from Russia, and 'unbearable trade barriers' as the reason for this. He said that India will have to pay a penalty along with a 25 percent tariff because the US is facing a huge trade deficit with India. However, on social media, Trump also called India a 'friend'.