NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor launched a sharp critique of US President Donald Trump on Friday, describing him as an “unusual president” whose unpredictable policies and tariff measures have had damaging effects on India’s economy. Speaking at a conference organised by CREDAI in Singapore, Tharoor argued that India was already paying the price for Washington’s sanctions, with job losses mounting across key export sectors.
“Mr Trump is a very mercurial individual, and the American system gives the President an amazing amount of leeway,” Tharoor said in response to a question on the state of Indo-US relations. He pointed to the 50% tariff imposed on Indian exports, half of it a penalty for importing Russian oil, and said the “truth” was that it had led to significant hardship. “Already, people are losing jobs. 1.35 lakh people in Surat have been laid off in the gems and jewellery business,” he said.Tharoor described Trump as a leader who disregards diplomatic norms. “Even though there have been 44 or 45 presidents before him, no one has ever seen this kind of behaviour coming down from the White House,” he said. He noted Trump’s tendency to make unusual remarks, from suggesting he deserved a Nobel Prize to claiming other nations wanted to “kiss my ass.” For Tharoor, such language underscored how the President was unlike any of his predecessors. “So Trump is unusual, and I would beg you not to judge our performance by his behaviour,” he added.The Congress MP also dismissed Washington’s justification for the additional penalty on India’s oil purchases from Russia. “It is actually sanctions and it is a sanction against us for buying oil from Russia. But that’s totally unfair, because China is importing more oil and gas from Russia,” he said, urging the US to apply uniform rules across all countries. He described the sanctions policy as “completely bizarre and unsustainable,” stressing that until it was lifted, India would continue to face serious challenges in accessing American markets.Tharoor argued that India had no choice but to adapt, diversifying both its export markets and diplomatic outreach. He pointed to the recent trade agreement with the UK as a step in that direction, and suggested that closer engagement with China and Russia might also be on the horizon. “We are essentially showing a serious intent at least to move away from confrontation with China,” he observed, while noting that ties with Moscow could grow “warmer.” He further called for building an Indo-European pole to give India more leverage in global trade and diplomacy.This is not the first time Tharoor has spoken out on the subject. Earlier, responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warm response to Trump’s remarks about the bilateral relationship being “very special,” he had cautioned against “forgetting and forgiving too quickly” given the real consequences faced by Indian exporters. “I don’t think we can just completely forget either the 50 per cent tariffs or the insults that have accompanied it,” he told ANI.Tharoor’s comments come at a moment when India-US trade talks are said to be making progress. US ambassador-designate Sergio Gor told lawmakers this week that India and America are “not that far apart” on a deal, though he reiterated Trump’s demand that New Delhi must stop buying Russian oil.
