At AICC, Rahul attacks Modi over tariffs by US

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a frontal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the US tariffs, alleging the PM was submissive in his dealings with other countries and claiming that an economic storm will hit India.

- Saubhadra Chatterji

AHMEDABAD: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a frontal attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the US tariffs, alleging the PM was submissive in his dealings with other countries and claiming that an economic storm will hit India.

On the day the 26% reciprocal tariff imposed by the US on Indian imports came into effect, Gandhi, addressing a packed house at the AICC session on Wednesday said: "Earlier when Modi went to the US, he hugged the President (Trump). This time, there were no such photos. The US President said, this time new tariff will be imposed. He (PM) didn't utter a single word."

Gandhi said that to divert attention from the US tariffs, announced on April 2, the government "organised a drama for two days in Parliament", referring to the debate and the passage of the Waqf law.

He also referred to Modi's recent meeting with Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus and suggested that the Indian Prime Minister hadn't been tough with the latter — the change of regime in Dhaka has been accompanied by attacks on minorities, and Bangladesh has sought to get closer to China.