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Hans India
4 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
'Dost dost na raha': Cong takes dig at PM Modi after Trump's fresh threat
New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday took a swipe at the government over US President Donald Trump's fresh trade threat against India with the iconic Mukesh song 'dost dost na raha' and claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "huglomacy" has "completely collapsed". Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh also slammed as "meek" the Ministry of External Affairs' statement on the "unjustified and unreasonable" targeting of New Delhi for its procurement of Russian crude oil. Ramesh also said it is the prime minister who should speak up on this issue. The opposition party's attack came after Trump on Monday said he will "substantially" raise US tariffs on New Delhi, accusing it of buying massive amounts of Russian oil and selling it for big profits. Asked about the remarks, Ramesh told PTI, "Well you know I am reminded of an old Mukesh song from the Raj Kapoor, Vyjayanthimala and Rajendra Kumar starrer 'Sangam' -- 'Dost dost na raha, pyaar pyaar na raha, Trump humein tera aitbaar na raha'. This is a complete collapse of the so-called friendship of Mr Modi and Mr Trump." Ramesh said there was 'Howdy Modi' in September 2019, 'Namaste Trump' in February 2020, 'Abki baar Trump Sarkar' slogan was given by Mr Modi and there was photo-op in February 2025. It was said that Modi was amongst the first heads of government to call on the new President Trump, he said. "Our External Affairs Minister (S Jaishankar) boasted that he had a front row seat in the White House ceremony when President Trump was inaugurated. So everything banked on the personal friendship between PM Modi and President Trump," he said. Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Modi, Ramesh said that the PM once spoke of the TOP -- Tomato, Onion and Potato -- challenges in prices, but the country now has to contend with the political challenges arising out of CAP --China, America and Pakistan. "We were thinking that our relationship with China and Pakistan is a challenge but who would have thought that our relationship with the US would also come under stress. I am afraid this is the collapse of this huglomacy of Mr Modi. There is no substitute to institutional processes of engagement in diplomacy," Ramesh said. He hit out at Modi for personalising diplomacy. This is the same President Trump who gave a special lunch to Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, which was unprecedented, the Congress leader pointed out. "President Trump is a transactional president. He claims Mr Modi is his great friend, Mr Modi claims Mr Trump is his great friend. But this has been a very costly friendship," Ramesh said. He alleged that the manner in which Prime Minister Modi has conducted foreign policy has led to its "complete collapse". Ramesh pointed out that over the last three decades, India's relationship with the US had transformed especially after the economic reforms of 1991 as it went through a lot of tension between 1972-82. Indira Gandhi went to the US to meet President Ronald Reagan in 1982 and that was the turning point. Then Rajiv Gandhi visited America in 1985 and that saw the take off of the Indo-US relationship, he said. "But it seems we are back to the period of 1970s when then US president Richard Nixon treated India cavalierly and Indira Gandhi stood up to him... I have no idea what Mr Modi has in mind, he has not said anything unlike Indira Gandhi who spoke in Parliament and outside," Ramesh said. It is not the job of the opposition to repair the Indo-US relationship, but it is that of the government, he said. In a social media post, Trump said, "India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits." "They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA," he added. India has said it will take all necessary steps to safeguard and promote national interest and that the implications of the tariffs are being examined. India's import of crude oil from Russia has risen from 0.2 per cent of total purchases before the Russia-Ukraine war to 35-40 per cent. New Delhi is the largest buyer of Russian oil after China. On August 1, Trump signed an Executive Order titled 'Further Modifying The Reciprocal Tariff Rates', raising tariffs for over five dozen countries, including a steep 25 per cent for India. The executive order, however, did not mention the penalty that Trump had said India will have to pay because of its purchases of Russian military equipment and energy.
India Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Dost, dost na raha: Congress mocks Modi-Trump ‘special bond' amid tariff threat
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the BJP government's foreign policy, questioning the much-touted "special bond" between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, alleging that it has come at a cost to remarks were in response to the diplomatic landscape between the two nations, which appears to be facing fresh turbulence over Trump's warning to India for purchasing Russian invoked the popular Hindi song Dost dost na raha (A friend is no longer a friend) to underscore his point, quipping, "PM must also know the song. Dost dost na raha, Trump yaar hamein tera aitbaar na raha (A friend is no longer a friend, Trump, my friend, we no longer trust you)." "Claims were made that the PM shares a special bond with President Trump, that they are old friends. What is the result of all of it? Threats of increased tariffs are being made. This friendship proved to be very expensive. The PM should answer," the General Secretary said at a press also pointed out past high-profile events like "Howdy Modi" and "Namaste Trump," and even the slogan "Abki baar Trump sarkar," slamming these were just "photo ops". Trump recently imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods and threatened further penalties if India continues purchasing oil from Russia. He went so far as to describe the Indian economy as "dead" and accused India of indirectly funding Russia's war in Ukraine through its oil imports. In a strongly worded response, India on Monday rejected the US stance, calling it unjustified and Congess leader added, "MEA has issued a statement now, but it is clear that our relations with the US have deteriorated". He also warned of a new geopolitical threats, saying, "Today, CAP - China, America and Pakistan have become a challenge for us."Ramesh further highlighted President Trump's repeated claims of mediating a ceasefire, which he said Trump mentioned "32-33 times," while PM Modi remained silent on the issue.- Ends
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Tariff threat: Congress's ‘dost dost na raha' swipe at PM Modi; mocks ‘Howdy Modi', ‘Namaste Trump' events
File photo of PM Modi and Donald Trump (Pic credit: ANI) NEW DELHI: Congress on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on PM Modi, mocking the much-touted "special bond" between him and US President, following Donald Trump's latest threat to raise tariffs on India over its continued oil imports from Russia. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, in a scathing statement laced with sarcasm and Bollywood references, said the so-called "friendship" with Trump had now become "very expensive" for India. "There is a popular song 'Dost dost na raha'. PM must also know the song. 'Dost dost na raha, Trump yaar hamein tera aitbaar na raha'," Ramesh said. Ramesh did not hold back as he reminded the public of previous high-profile events like 'Howdy Modi' and 'Namaste Trump'. "They conducted 'Howdy Modi' and 'Namaste Trump'. They said 'Abki baar Trump sarkar'. There were photo ops. Our EAM was sitting in the first row during the inauguration of President Trump. Claims were made that the PM shares a special bond with President Trump, that they are old is the result of all of it? Threats of increased tariffs are being made," he said. Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Monday, accused India of buying large quantities of Russian oil and reselling it on the open market for profit, vowing to substantially raise tariffs on Indian goods. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pierce Brosnan's Wife Lost 120 Pounds - This Is Her Now Undo The ministry of external affairs (MEA) has since issued a strong rebuttal, defending India's right to shape its energy policy based on national interest. Ramesh also aimed at PM Modi's silence when Trump controversially claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. "He said this 32-33 times. PM did not say anything on this. MEA has issued a statement now, but it is clear that our relations with the US have deteriorated," Ramesh said. "Today, CAP - China, America and Pakistan have become a challenge for us," he added.
