Tharoor Distances from Gandhi’s Trump Economy Attack

Congress MP offers different take on US President’s ‘dead economy’ jibe

Congress MP **Shashi Tharoor** on Saturday distanced himself from party leader **Rahul Gandhi**’s endorsement of U.S. President **Donald Trump**’s critical remarks on the Indian economy, stating that **Gandhi** likely had his “own reasons” for backing the sentiment.

Tharoor Urges Support for Negotiators

When questioned by reporters about **Gandhi**’s comments, **Tharoor** indicated he would not comment on his party leader’s stance. He remarked, “He has his reasons for saying so.”

Earlier, **Rahul Gandhi** had aligned with **Donald Trump**’s sharp criticism, stating, “Yes, he is right. Everybody knows this except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. The Indian economy is a dead economy. I’m glad President Trump has stated a fact. The BJP has finished the economy to help Adani.” **Gandhi** further accused Prime Minister **Narendra Modi** of prioritizing the interests of a single industrialist, alleging, “PM Modi works only for one person: Adani. This [India-US trade] deal will take place, and PM Modi will do exactly what Trump says. The government has destroyed our economy, defence and foreign policy.”

In contrast, **Tharoor** adopted a more measured tone. He characterized the U.S. tariffs as a potential “bargaining tactic” during ongoing trade discussions and called for robust backing for India’s negotiators to secure the best possible agreement. He added, “We must give strong support to our negotiators to get the best possible deal,” but also cautioned that “if a good deal is not possible, we may have to walk away.”

Internal Party Divisions Surface

This divergence in statements comes amid apparent growing tensions between **Tharoor** and the Congress leadership. These have been particularly evident since **Tharoor** publicly supported ‘Operation Sindoor,’ a military response to a terrorist attack, emphasizing that “nation comes before party.”

The internal fissures deepened when the central government appointed **Tharoor** to lead the ‘Operation Sindoor’ delegation to the United States without a Congress nomination. His acceptance of this role was widely seen as a defiance of the party’s position.

Trump’s Tariffs Spark Trade Storm

**Donald Trump**’s remarks emerged shortly after he announced a 25% tariff on Indian imports, accompanied by a veiled threat of further penalties due to India’s continued trade in Russian crude oil and military equipment.

The contrasting approaches highlight ongoing debates about India’s economic policies and its strategic partnerships. For instance, India’s total trade with the US reached approximately $128.5 billion in 2023-24, underscoring the significance of these bilateral trade relations (U.S.-India Business Council).