Against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and tariffs on India, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a swipe at the central government, invoking former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s leadership during the 1971 war.
Gandhi shared an old video of himself on social media platform X, in which he had contrasted Prime Minister Modi’s approach to the United States with that of Indira Gandhi, claiming she had stood firm despite pressure from Washington during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Accompanying the post, Gandhi wrote, “Farq samjho, sir ji!” (Understand the difference, sir).
Trump, speaking on Tuesday at the House GOP Member Retreat, said that Prime Minister Modi was “not that happy” with him due to tariffs imposed by the US on India over its purchases of Russian oil. He also claimed that Modi had personally sought a meeting with him.
“I have a very good relationship with him. He’s not that happy with me because they’re paying a lot of tariffs now… but they have reduced it very substantially from Russia,” Trump said.
In the video shared by Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader alleged that Prime Minister Modi had “surrendered” following a phone call from Trump during a past India-Pakistan military standoff. He contrasted this with Indira Gandhi’s response in 1971, when, according to him, she did not relent despite the US sending its Seventh Fleet to the region. “This is the difference,” Gandhi had said in the video.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh also criticised the prime minister, sharing a clip of Trump’s remarks. “From Namaste Trump to Howdy Modi to Donald bhai and now this. What next?” Ramesh posted on X.
Trump has imposed tariffs of up to 50 per cent on India, including a 25 per cent levy linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil. He also claimed that India had been waiting for five years for Apache helicopters and said the US was now expediting the process. “India ordered 68 Apaches,” Trump said.
Earlier this week, the Congress had criticised the government over Trump’s comments that Washington could raise tariffs on India “very quickly”, stating that events such as “Namaste Trump” and “Howdy Modi” and public displays of camaraderie with the US president had yielded little benefit for India.
The ruling BJP has not yet responded to the latest remarks by Congress leaders.
