Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticises PM Modi following Donald Trump’s remarks on tariffs and Russian oil, drawing a comparison with Indira Gandhi’s handling of US pressure in 1971.

Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday mounted a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi government after recent remarks by Donald Trump on India-US ties and tariffs. Gandhi shared an old video of himself on social media, urging people to “understand the difference,” while drawing a historical comparison with India’s leadership during the 1971 war.

The reaction followed Trump’s comments suggesting that Narendra Modi was displeased with Washington over tariffs imposed due to India’s purchase of Russian oil. Trump also claimed that India had reduced such imports and asserted that tariffs could be increased “very quickly” if required.

In his post on X, Gandhi referenced former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, recalling how she resisted American pressure despite the deployment of the US Seventh Fleet during the 1971 conflict. Gandhi contrasted this with his allegation that Modi had “surrendered” following a phone call from Trump during a previous India-Pakistan military standoff.

The criticism was echoed by Congress communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh, who mocked the evolution of India-US optics from “Namaste Trump” to “Howdy Modi”—suggesting that the public diplomacy had yielded little benefit. The Congress has maintained that repeated gestures of goodwill towards the US leadership have failed to shield India from steep tariffs, including those linked to Russian oil imports.

The episode highlights how foreign policy narratives are increasingly being used as tools of domestic political contestation. References to 1971 signal an attempt to frame leadership strength through historical memory. For the public, the debate also underscores the economic stakes involved, as tariff decisions can directly affect prices and trade flows.