New Delhi: While the Indian government has made a measured response to the 25 percent trade tariff imposed by Donald Trump, many in the BJP have taken up the role of hitting out at Trump’s policies, with some BJP MPs suggesting the government diversify its trade to other countries, namely Latin America, Africa and the Global South, and, like Vajpayee, who faced US sanctions, choose a new path.
Even RSS-affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch slammed America for adopting coercive tactics to gain access to sensitive sectors of the Indian market.
BJP Lok Sabha MP Nishikant Dubey took a dig at Trump’s recent declaration on developing an oil reserve in Pakistan. “What can a beggar country give to India?” he asked on social media. “This is America’s own revelation. Pakistan has only 25 percent of oil and gas reserves for its own expenses. According to America, the Turkmenistan, Iran, and Qatar oil and gas pipeline is the only final option to meet Pakistan’s needs. What will a beggar country give to India? India does not care about anyone more than its farmers, small traders, and the country’s security. This is Modi’s strong India,” he posted.
In another post, Nishikant Dubey suggested, “Govt should take up the challenge like Vajpayee. Our government conducted a nuclear test in 1998, and the United States imposed trade and financial sanctions; India’s economy grew at a rate of 8 percent until 2008. The Modi government has both an opportunity and a challenge; we will succeed.”
In another post, Dubey drew a parallel between PM Modi and Singapore founding father and former prime minister Lee khan Yew. While replying to Rahul Gandhi, he said, “Malaysia declared Singapore a dead economy and expelled it in 1965. Where is Singapore today, and where is Malaysia? @RahulGandhi-ji, Lee Kuan Yew and Modi-ji are made of the same metal, the country will laugh at your Pakistan-supported, America-supported, China-supported talk.”
After Trump’s “dead economy” jibe, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who briefed Parliament on 31 July had two messages in his statement—one for the domestic constituency and another for the US.
Responding to the American President’s jibe, Goyal said, “In just over a decade, India has rapidly transformed from being one of the fragile five to the fastest growing major economy in the world. Today international institutions and economists see India as a bright spot in the global economy. India is contributing almost 16 percent to global growth.”
Goyal’s message to voters at home was that India would not compromise on national interest. Not wanting to upset sensitivities of farmers, Piyush Goyal’s statement focused on protecting the agriculture sector.
But unlike the government’s measured stance, many BJP MPs suggested that India identify a new country for its exports. Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma said, “India’s economy is the fastest-growing economy in the world. The issue of tariffs being imposed by the US is still under discussion… (The Opposition) has started declaring results even before that. On the other hand, India has made trade agreements with Britain, European countries, Russia, and many other major countries. India is a country that does not rely solely on exports. We are moving towards self-reliance. If there is a shortfall in exports from one place, we move towards fulfilling it from other places.”
BJP Lok Sabha MP from Gujarat Hemant Joshi told ThePrint, “Trump has a habit of making unilateral statements and later retracting. Earlier he made several statements and later made a U-turn. So let’s wait for our conclusion of the trade deal with America, but knowing our prime minister, he will not bow under any pressure.”
BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal, whose organisation Confederation of All India Traders works to protect interests of small traders, said, “This is an unfortunate statement by the American President. The Indian economy is booming and such statements are not required at the ongoing trade talks. But the government will protect the interests of exporters once the talks are concluded.”
But Trump’s outburst has given the Opposition another opportunity to corner the Modi government. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said, “Everybody knows this except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. Everybody knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. I am glad that President Trump has stated a fact… The entire world knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. BJP has finished the economy to help Adani.”
“The foreign minister gives a speech and says that we have a genius foreign policy. On one hand, America is abusing you; on the other hand, China is behind you. When you send your delegation to the world, no country condemns Pakistan. How are they running this country? There is total confusion… He (PM Modi in his speech) did not take the name of Trump, China… The military chief of Pakistan who carried out this Pahalgam attack… President Trump is having lunch with him, and they are saying we had a huge success,” he added.
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya and MP Anurag Thakur attacked Rahul Gandhi for saying India was a dead economy. But sources say, the BJP’s real challenge is not Rahul Gandhi, but the emerging geo political situation which can disrupt the Modi government’s leverage on foreign policy and domestic politics.
A senior BJP leader said, “We can counter Rahul Gandhi any time, but not Trump. Knowing the importance of the India-US relationship, a poor trade deal will diminish our leverage on the diplomatic front and in our domestic constituency. The PM has invested so much in the relationship with the US president, but Trump’s outreach to Pakistan and the changing geo political situation can create a major diplomatic challenge for India. Our challenge is to safeguard our export interests and protect the warmth of the India-US relationship.”
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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