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News18
31-07-2025
- Business
- News18
‘Dead Economy' Remark: Rahul Gandhi Backs Trump, But Congress Leaders Differ
Last Updated: Rahul Gandhi criticised PM Modi's government, agreeing with Trump's "dead economy" remark. Congress leaders Tharoor and Shukla disagreed, defending India's economy. Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday latched on to US President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs imposition on India and 'dead economy" remark to slam Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government. He lashed out at the government saying that the Republican leader is right in saying that the Indian economy is 'dead". However, the Leader of the Opposition's criticism of the government unexpectedly has backfired, with his party colleagues and allies taking an opposite stand. What Rahul Gandhi Said? The Congress MP questioned the Prime Minister over 25% tariff imposed on Indian goods by the US. When asked to comment on Trump's dead economy remark, Rahul Gandhi said that he agreed with the US President. 'Yes, he is right. Everybody knows this except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. Everybody knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. I am glad that President Trump has stated a fact… The entire world knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. BJP has finished the economy to help Adani…" Gandhi said. Gandhi further alleged that the BJP government has destroyed India's economic, defence and foreign policy. '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," he said. 'Foreign Minister gives a speech and says that we have a genius foreign policy. On one hand, America is abusing you; on the other hand, China is behind you. When you send your delegation to the world, no country condemns Pakistan. How are they running this country? There is total confusion… He (PM Modi in his speech) did not take the name of Trump, China… The military chief of Pakistan who did this Pahalgam attack, President Trump is having lunch with him, and they are saying we had a huge success," he added. Shashi Tharoor's Different Stance From Gandhi Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and Thrivananthapurm MP Shashi Tharoor, whose pro-Modi government remarks on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor have drawn snubs from the Congress leadership, took a different stand from Gandhi and said that the ongoing trade talks between the US and India are 'challenging". 'We have ongoing negotiations with the EU, we already concluded a deal with the UK, and we are talking with other countries also. If we can't compete in America, we may have to diversify our markets outside of America. We are not out of options," he said as quoted by news agency ANI. 'If America is completely unreasonable with its demands, we have to move elsewhere. That is the strength of India; we are not a totally export-dependent economy like China. We have a good and strong domestic market. We must give strong support to our negotiators to find the best deal possible. If a good deal is not possible, we may have to walk away…" he added. Tharoor further said India must not 'buckle under" and negotiate hard with the United States on trade. In a column for NDTV, Tharoor strongly criticised Trump's remarks on India's trade and foreign policy. He argued that Trump's comments reflect a transactional and oversimplified worldview, where trade deficits are treated as personal insults and independent foreign policies are seen as threats. Tharoor has rejected Trump's complaints about Indian tariffs and trade barriers, calling them tired arguments that ignore the economic realities of developing nations like India. What Rajiv Shukla Said? Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Rajiv Shukla said that Trump's statement is 'completely wrong". 'The Indian economy is not dead. Economic reforms were made when PV Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh were there. Atal Bihari Vajpayee took those reforms forward. Manmohan Singh strengthened it in the 10 years. The current government has also worked on it. Our economic condition is not at all weak. If someone claims they can finish us economically, it's likely due to a misunderstanding. Trump is living in a delusion. Imposing tariffs is wrong. Every nation has the right to trade with the nation it wants. Restricting them, speaking against the BRICS, speaking against trade and import from Russia, this is not right…" he told news agency ANI. #WATCH | Delhi | Congress MP Rajeev Shukla says, '… Trump saying that the economies of India and Russia are dead, is wrong. The Indian economy is not dead. Economic reforms were made when PV Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh were there. Atal Bihari Vajpayee took those reforms… — ANI (@ANI) July 31, 2025 Priyanka Chaturvedi Says India's Economy Is In Top 5 Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi slammed the US President for his arrogance and said that there is enough data to know that the Indian economy is among the top five in the world. 'Not that one needs to say it there's enough legitimate data available to know that Indian economy is in the top 5 of the world and one of the fastest growing economies. Calling it a dead economy can only come from a position of arrogance or ignorance. Thank you for your attention to this matter!," she said in a post on X. Not that one needs to say it there's enough legitimate data available to know that Indian economy is in the top 5 of the world and one of the fastest growing economies. Calling it a dead economy can only come from a position of arrogance or ignorance. Thank you for your attention…— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) July 31, 2025 BJP Hits Back At Rahul Gandhi BJP's IT Cell chief Amit Malviya said Rahul Gandhi's constant attempts to belittle India's economic rise are not mere 'political jabs" but they're direct insults to the 140 crore Indians working hard to build a better future. Malviya pointed out that key economic indicators showed robust India's growth, with inflation at a 6-year low, tractor retail sales up 8.7% in June, three-wheeler production rising 8.6%, air cargo increasing by 8.1% and port cargo by 5.6%. Additionally, steel consumption grew 7.9%, renewable electricity generation surged 18.2%, crude steel rose 12.2%, finished steel by 12.5%, tractor production climbed 9.8%, cement production was up 7%, and capital goods output (IIP) jumped 14.1% in May 2025. Rahul Gandhi has hit a new low by echoing 'dead economy" jibe — a shameful insult to the aspirations, achievements, and well-being of the Indian let's be honest — the only thing truly 'dead" here is Rahul Gandhi's own political credibility and legacy. Even amidst… — Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 31, 2025 Trump's 25% Tariff Move Earlier on Wednesday, the US President Trump announced to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all goods coming from India starting August 1, plus an unspecified penalty for buying Russian crude oil and military equipment. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump cited India's high tariffs, stringent non-monetary trade barriers and continued military and energy ties with Russia as the basis for the move. 'India is our friend, but we have… done relatively little business with them because their tariffs are far too high… and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non‑monetary trade barriers of any country," Donald Trump wrote. He further criticised India's defense and energy relationship with Russia, saying, 'They have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE- ALL THINGS NOT GOOD!" 'INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST," he concluded. Later, he criticised India's trade policies and its ties with Russia. In his post, Trump dismissed concerns over India's relationship with Moscow, stating, 'I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care." India's Response The government on Wednesday said it is studying the implications of Trump's announcement to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, along with a penalty from August 1. top videos View all 'The Government has taken note of a statement by the US President on bilateral trade. The Government is studying its implications," an official statement said. (With inputs from agencies) About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from More Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 31, 2025, 17:24 IST News politics 'Dead Economy' Remark: Rahul Gandhi Backs Trump, But Congress Leaders Differ Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
22-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Shashi Tharoor dares Kerala Congress over 'pro-Modi' snub, asks 'who are they?'
A significant rift has emerged between Shashi Tharoor and the Kerala Congress, with the state unit boycotting the Thiruvananthapuram MP over his alleged 'pro-Modi' position. The Kerala Congress has stated it will not cooperate with Tharoor, accusing him of attacking the party, Indira Gandhi, and opposing Rahul Gandhi's statements. In response, Tharoor has challenged his critics, asking, "Who are they? What is their party position?" He maintains there is no basis for the allegations. This internal conflict intensifies as the state unit calls for the Congress High Command to intervene. The friction is also reportedly linked to Tharoor's expressed interest in being the Chief Ministerial candidate for the next Assembly elections, a move that has caused friction with some state leaders.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Congress Slams Shashi Tharoor's ‘Modi First' Politics After MP's Praise for PM on Operation Sindoor
/ Jun 25, 2025, 05:21PM IST Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has broken his silence over Shashi Tharoor's public praise of PM Modi post Operation Sindoor, saying 'For us, the nation comes first — but some say Modi first, India second.' While he ruled out action against Tharoor, Kharge hinted at clear discomfort within the party over the Thiruvananthapuram MP's pro-Modi tone. Tharoor had lauded Modi's 'energy and dynamism' in a recent op-ed, prompting backlash from Congress leaders like Pawan Khera and Udit Raj. Tharoor was also controversially included in India's global outreach delegation after the Sindoor ceasefire. Kharge defended CWC unity, but his veiled dig has set off fresh debate within the Congress on loyalty, discipline, and positioning in the post-Operation Sindoor narrative.#shashitharoor #kharge #operationSindoor #modipraise #congressrift #indianpolitics #tharoorvscongress #modidiplomacy #cwc #tharoorcontroversy #khargeonmodi #nationalinterest #modifirstindiasecond #rahulgandhi #congressnews #bjpvscongress #indiadiplomacy #politicaldebate #breakingnewsindia #modiinternational #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #indianews
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Sanjay Raut's book refers to BJP bigwigs as ‘ingrates,' triggering a political row
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut's controversial and as yet unreleased book Narkatala Swarg (Heaven in Hell) has made several claims concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, which sparked an uproar on Friday (May 16, 2025). The ruling alliance and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised Mr. Raut and advised him to stick to the 'facts.' In the book, he claimed that the Shiv Sena Chief late Balasaheb Thackeray, and NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar helped Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah when they faced political and legal troubles, yet the 'two were ungrateful.' 'During the 2002 Gujarat riots, former Gujarat Chief Minister Mr. Modi, was about to be arrested. It was Mr. Pawar who opposed the arrest as he was an elected CM, thus shielding him,' said Mr. Raut, adding that Mr. Pawar might tell the truth. Mr. Raut made a similar allegation against Mr. Shah, saying he reached out to Balasaheb Thackeray when the CBI opposed bail during a trial in a murder case. Mr. Raut recalled Mr. Thackeray personally made a few calls for Shah's bail. Mr. Raut held Mr. Shah responsible for the split in the undivided Shiv Sena and said, 'This is how he repaid the Thackeray family.' The book further claims that the current Modi-Shah leadership, despite benefiting from the goodwill of leaders like Mr. Thackeray and Mr. Pawar, later turned against them and the very institutions that once stood by them. Mr. Raut points out that while the mainstream media has now largely turned pro-Modi, Balasaheb Thackeray was among the few who supported Mr. Modi when most political forces and media houses were against him. Explosive claims His book makes several such explosive claims, including that the media is becoming pro-Modi. Mr. Raut wrote a book about his time in jail after his arrest for alleged involvement in a financial scam. The book revolves around the investigation and his release. He also said, 'Any more revelations would have taken the State by storm.' Mr. Raut's claims were dismissed by BJP leaders. 'His words make no sense,' BJP leader Chitra Wagh said. 'No matter what he writes, it will not impact Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Maharashtra.' Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took a potshot at Mr. Raut and said, 'I don't read novels and children's books anymore; they no longer interest me. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule advised Mr. Raut to change the book's name from Narkatla Swarg to Narkatla Raut (Raut in Hell). Meanwhile, BJP leader and Fisheries Minister Nitesh Rane advised him to state the facts and complete the book. 'He forgot a few pages; he did not include all the slang he used for the Thackeray family during the case to go with his affection for Balasaheb. If he writes all the facts, Uddhav Thackeray will take him to hell,' said Mr. Rane.
Express Tribune
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Political pundits downplay risk of war
While the spectre of full-scale war remains distant, the possibility of limited military action looms large – one that could fan the flames of war hysteria deliberately stoked by the belligerent Modi government, analysts have warned. Tensions continue to simmer on both sides of the border after India vowed retaliation over a recent attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which it blamed on Pakistan without furnishing evidence. In response, Islamabad issued a stern warning against any misadventure and placed its forces on high alert. Political analysts in Pakistan have downplayed the chances of full-scale conflict, arguing that India's media-driven war talk serves to bolster the ruling party's domestic image rather than signal genuine military intent. Despite the heightened rhetoric, they believe strategic restraint still holds at the military level, though a return to calm appears out of reach for now. Former Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, speaking to The Express Tribune, said the current "no war, no peace" situation is likely to persist as it benefits the Modi regime. However, he asserted that no military conflict or war between the two neighbours is expected. He said that despite Pakistan's smaller size, it had responded responsibly to India's threats. "Not only that, we are also apprising the world of the risk of misadventure by India, which shows our commitment to peace even in these testing times," he said. He likened the situation to the Cuban Missile Crisis, which brought the US and the USSR to the brink of nuclear conflict. "The world must be made aware of the consequences of a nuclear fallout," he warned. He added that Pakistan was compelled to issue a strong response only after India threatened annihilation. "Despite the chest-thumping on the Indian side, Pakistan remained composed, its people and its media," he said. He noted that Indian media's jingoism had reached a fever pitch. "The language pro-Modi media was using bordered on hate speech," he observed. Commenting on India's move to hold the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, Mushahid said it was a dangerous game that could backfire. "If we are the lower riparian in the case of the Jhelum, Chenab and Indus rivers, then India is a lower riparian state in the case of the Brahmaputra and Indus, both of which originate from China," he said. "If India tries to fiddle with our water supply, China could disrupt the flow in those rivers." He clarified that India had only held the IWT in abeyance and had not suspended it. "They cannot suspend the treaty, nor can they disrupt the water supply in the short run. They simply don't have the infrastructure for that," he said. Senior political analyst and former caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Hasan Askari also said the probability of a full-blown war was low. However, he warned that limited military action remained a real possibility. He noted that India had for the past two decades sought ways to punish Pakistan below the nuclear threshold, but had failed to do so thus far. He praised Pakistan's overall conduct during the crisis. "Other than the defence and information ministers, Pakistan and its media have acted maturely and professionally," he said.
