Rahul Gandhi Condemns US Tariff as 'Economic Blackmail'

In a strong statement on Wednesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the United States of engaging in 'economic blackmail' following its decision to impose an additional 25% tariff on oil imports from Russia to India. Gandhi suggested that the move was an attempt to push New Delhi into an inequitable trade arrangement.

Through a heated post on social media platform X, Gandhi stated, "Trump's 50% tariff is economic blackmail - an attempt to bully India into an unfair trade deal. PM Modi better not let his weakness override the interests of the Indian people." India's government has denounced the US decision as baseless and promised to defend its national interests.

According to a release by the Ministry of External Affairs, India will act to safeguard its energy security, emphasizing that its Russian oil imports are crucial for meeting the needs of 1.4 billion citizens. US President Donald Trump formalized the tariff increase through an Executive Order, citing national security concerns and asserting that India's oil imports pose an unusual risk to the United States. The new tariffs will apply to goods entering the US after a 21-day period.

(With inputs from agencies.)