New Delhi [India], July 31 (ANI): Former Union Home Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday took a veiled dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that the 25 per cent tariff on all Indian exports to the United States and penalty for buying Russian oil is a 'big blow' to India's trade with the US

Chidambaram called the tariffs a 'big blow' for India's trade, and also argued that they are 'a clear violation' of the World Trade Organisation's rules.

In a post on X, Chidambaram said, 'The 25 per cent tariff on all Indian exports to the United States PLUS penalty for buying Russian oil is a big blow to India's trade with the U.S. 'Dosti' is no substitute for diplomacy and painstaking negotiations The tariff imposed by the U.S. is a clear violation of the WTO rules.'

https://x.com/PChidambaram_IN/status/1950750575928451371

He also questioned PM Modi's statement on India's friendship with the US during his visit to Washington on February 14. 'What happened to MIGA + MAGA = MEGA?' he asked.

PM Modi, during his visit to US, drew a parallel between India's 'Viksit Bharat' vision and the 'Make America Great Again' (MAGA) slogan in the United States, coining the term 'Make India Great Again' (MIGA). PM Modi noted that India and the US have formed a 'MEGA' partnership to drive prosperity for both nations.

US President Donald Trump in a social media post on his Truth Social Account, announced 25 per cent tariffs on India starting August 1. Trump also said India will face additional penalties for purchasing oil from Russia.

'Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country. Also, 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 1st. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MAGA!', Trump posted. (ANI)