New Delhi [India], August 9 : Days after US President Trump announced additional tariffs on Indian goods, former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said on Saturday that India will pursue policies which are in its national interest and there is "no question of compromise or succumbing to pressure from anybody".
Speaking to reporters in Delhi, the former VP said that they would try to keep good relations with everyone, including the US, but highlighted how the people are not happy with the US supporting Pakistan, which has been a haven for terrorism.
"India will stand on its own. We will pursue policies which are in our national interest. There is no question of compromise or succumbing to pressure from anybody. We are the largest democracy in the world, and we believe what we are doing is good. We will try to keep good relations with all, including with America. Because both are democracies," he said.
Slamming Pakistan for orchestrating the killing of 26 tourists in Pahalgam on April 22, Naidu added, "But people of India are not happy the way America has tried to patronise Pakistan which has become a haven for terrorists, which has orchestrated the killing of 26 innocent people. In the backdrop of this, if anybody supports Pakistan, we are not really able to understand why all these things are happening. Let me reiterate that we are an independent country and we will stand firmly for our national interest, no compromise at all."
Naidu also saluted the armed forces for Operation Sindoor, which was India's response to the Pahalgam attack.
"We have to salute our heroes of Operation Sindoor, the great armed forces and also the great scientists who provided the arms and equipment. We should always remember them all. We are grateful to them for their great contribution with regard to the success of Operation Sindoor," he added.
On Thursday (US local time), US President Donald Trump said there will be no trade negotiations with India until a dispute over tariffs is resolved, following his administration's decision to double tariffs on Indian imports. The tariffs were imposed by the US as a "penalty" for buying Russian oil.
The US statement department on Thursday stated that "India is a strategic partner" and that the US is engaging with India in "full and frank dialogue" even as relations between the two countries continue to witness tension amid the tariff dispute.
Meanwhile, on Friday, Prime Minister Modi said he had a "very good and detailed" telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which he thanked the Russian leader for updating him on the latest developments in Ukraine.