New Delhi [India], August 6 : As the US slapped an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, Congress leader Pawan Khera on Wednesday said that the country is now paying a price for 11 years of "self-projection" done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his image.
"Over the last 11 years, the track record of our foreign policy, diplomacy, the Prime Minister's own initiatives abroad, diaspora events, everything was targeted at projecting the Prime Minister and his image, not the country's interests. Here we are paying a price for 11 years of self-projection at the expense of the country...We hope that no negotiation which undermines our interests takes place," Khera told ANI.
Congress leader called the newly imposed tariffs "Pure and simple blackmail by America".
"It is surprising that we have reached this spot, where we can be bullied around by a superpower," he said.
US President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on Wednesday imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on imports from India in response to New Delhi's purchase of Russian oil.
According to the order issued by the White House, Trump cited matters of national security and foreign policy concerns, as well as other relevant trade laws, for the increase, claiming that India's imports of Russian oil, directly or indirectly, pose an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the United States.
After the order, the total tariff on Indian goods will be 50 per cent. While the initial duty becomes effective on August 7, the additional levy will come into effect after 21 days and will be imposed on all Indian goods imported into the US, except for goods already in transit or those meeting specific exemptions.
Terming the United States' move to impose additional tariffs on India over its oil imports from Russia as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday declared that New Delhi will take "all actions necessary to protect its national interests."
In an official statement, the MEA said, "The United States has in recent days targeted India's oil imports from Russia. We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India."