New Delhi: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday launched a scathing attack on US President Donald Trump over steep tariff hikes on Indian goods, accusing Washington of trying to undermine India’s rapid growth.
Speaking at a public event, Singh referred to the US administration as the “Sabka boss” and said it was unhappy with the pace of India’s progress. “There are some people who are not happy with the speed at which India is developing. They are not liking it. 'Sabka boss toh hum hain', how is India growing at such a fast pace?’,” he remarked, linking the sentiment to recent US trade actions.
The criticism comes in the wake of Trump’s decision to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, alongside an additional 25 per cent penalty over New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. The US President has threatened further tariff hikes and secondary sanctions unless India halts such imports. He has also dismissed India’s economy as “dead,” while his aides accused New Delhi of financing Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Singh accused certain global powers of deliberately making Indian goods more expensive in order to reduce their competitiveness. “Many are trying to ensure that products made in India, by Indian hands, become more expensive than those made in other countries, so that when prices rise, the world will stop buying them. This effort is underway. But India is advancing so rapidly that I say with full confidence: no power in the world can now stop India from becoming a major global power,” he asserted.
The Defense Minister said the situation had not affected India’s defense exports, which now exceed Rs 24,000 crore annually. “This is the strength of the new India,” he said, adding that shipments were growing steadily.
India has strongly rejected the US measures, calling them “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable,” and has pledged to take all necessary steps to safeguard national interests. The government has defended its Russian oil imports as market-driven and essential for the energy security of its 1.4 billion people, noting that many other countries make similar purchases.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also addressed the issue, declaring that India will prioritize its own interests, even at significant cost. Stressing that agriculture and dairy remain sensitive sectors, he said the country would never compromise on the welfare of farmers, fishermen, and dairy workers. These sectors were key sticking points in trade negotiations, with Washington pressing for greater market access while New Delhi stood firm.
Following India’s refusal to alter its energy imports and the imposition of higher tariffs, the US has suspended trade talks with India and ruled out any further negotiations.