The United States’ move to impose reciprocal tariffs on Indian exports “is going to devastate our economy”, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi said in Lok Sabha today. Criticising the Narendra Modi government’s foreign policy, Mr Gandhi said, “You have given China 4,000 square kilometres of land. On the other side, our ally suddenly decides to impose tariffs on us, 26 per cent, which is going to completely destroy our economy. Our auto industry, our pharmaceutical industry. They are all on the line.”
Mr Gandhi then referred to Indira Gandhi, former Prime Minister and his grandmother, and said someone once asked her if she leaned left or right when it came to foreign policy. “Indira Gandhi said, ‘I don’t lean left or right. I stand straight. I am Indian and I stand straight’. The BJP and RSS have a different philosophy. When asked if they lean left or right. They say, ‘no no no, we bow our heads right in front of every foreigner that comes,” he said, seeking a reply from the Centre on how it plans to tackle the tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration.