BJP Contrasts Tharoor & Rahul's Response to Trump Tariffs

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has sharply contrasted the reactions of Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Rahul Gandhi to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on India, accusing them of inconsistency and political opportunism.

While Tharoor criticized Trump’s stance as "economic protectionism" that could hurt Indian exports, Rahul Gandhi took a more combative tone, framing it as an attack on Indian workers and farmers. The BJP seized on this divergence, arguing that the Congress lacks a coherent economic policy and is merely reacting for political mileage.

The ruling party also highlighted PM Modi’s diplomatic outreach during Trump’s presidency, including trade negotiations that averted major escalations, and contrasted it with Congress’s "ad-hoc" approach. The BJP’s attack underscores its broader narrative of positioning the Modi government as a strong defender of India’s economic interests, while painting the opposition as unreliable on global trade issues.

This debate gains significance as Trump, now a presidential candidate again, has hinted at aggressive trade policies, potentially impacting India-U.S. relations if he returns to power. The BJP’s response aims to reinforce its image as the only party capable of navigating such challenges effectively.