"Will PM Modi now grow a spine?": KC Venugopal demands explanation from Centre after US imposes 25 pc tariffs on India

New Delhi [India], July 30 (ANI): Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal on Wednesday slammed the Central government after the US imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods and said that PM Modi has made a "grave miscalculation" of trying to appease United States President Trump.
"After the US has slapped India with 25 per cent tariffs, will the PM now grow a spine and stand up to Trump? By staying silent on Trump's ceasefire statements and his warmth towards Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, PM Modi made the grave miscalculation of trying to appease Trump in the hope that India would receive a favourable trade deal," Venugopal posted on X.
Congress leader demanded an explanation from Prime Minister Modi on how the government plans to deal with the tariffs imposed by the US.
"This completely exposes how the Modi government has compromised our national security and sovereignty by linking it to trade. We demand a clear explanation from the PM himself on how the Government plans to navigate the perilous situation they have landed us in," Venugopal wrote.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that India will pay a 25 per cent tariff on goods exported to the United States. He further said that India will have to pay an additional penalty due to its oil and military purchases from Russia.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said the tariffs will begin on August 1.
He accused India of having high tariffs, tough trade barriers, and buying most of its military and energy supplies from Russia. Trump said these actions are "not good" at a time when the world wants Russia to stop the war in Ukraine.
"Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country," Trump said in his Truth Social post.
"Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE - ALL THINGS NOT GOOD! INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST 1st. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MAGA!", the US President said. (ANI)