Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday distanced himself from Rahul Gandhi's endorsement of US President Donald Trump's "dead economy" jibe at India, saying the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha must have had his "own reasons" for backing the remark.
"I don't want to comment on what my party leader has said. When questioned by reporters regarding Gandhi's remarks, Tharoor stated, "He has his reasons for saying so." The former Congress chief had earlier endorsed Donald Trump's scathing criticism of the Indian economy. "Yes, he is right. Except for the Finance Minister and the Prime Minister, everyone knows this. The Indian economy is a dead economy. I appreciate President Trump stating a fact. Rahul Gandhi stated on Wednesday that the BJP had "finished the economy to help Adani." He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was giving priority to one businessman's interests. "PM Modi works exclusively for Adani. This [India-US trade] deal will take place, and PM Modi will do exactly what Trump says. The government has destroyed our economy, defense, and foreign policy," Rahul Gandhi claimed.
Tharoor, on the other hand, did not repeat Gandhi's sharp criticism. On Thursday, he described the US tariffs as possibly a "bargaining tactic" amid ongoing trade negotiations and urged support for Indian negotiators. He stated, "We must give our negotiators strong support to get the best deal." However, he also warned that “if a good deal is not possible, we may have to walk away.”
The exchange occurs as a result of Tharoor's public support for Operation Sindoor, a military operation launched by the Indian armed forces to avenge the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack, which has increased tensions between Tharoor and the Congress leadership. In sharp contrast to the Congress's position, Tharoor has repeatedly stated that "nation comes before party." When Tharoor was appointed by the central government to lead the Operation Sindoor delegation to the United States without Congress's approval, the divide got even wider. Internal divisions have grown as a result of his acceptance of the role, which has been seen as a rejection of the party's position. In the meantime, Trump's remarks, which sparked a political storm in India, came shortly after the US president announced a 25% tariff on Indian imports and a vague threat of additional penalties if India continued to purchase Russian crude and military equipment.
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