New Delhi [India], August 2 : Congress leader Pawan Khera on Saturday criticised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government following US President Donald Trump's announcement of a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports.
Khera questioned the government's foreign policy, alleging it has made India overly dependent on foreign powers.
" It is sad to know that now we have to do everything with America's permission. What kind of foreign policy is this that now you have become completely dependent on foreign powers? They will decide what we buy from whom? This is a non-aligned country...," Khera told ANI.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs against India and threatened an additional "penalty" for importing Russian oil. Trump on Friday signed a fresh executive order imposing revised tariffs for 70 countries set to come into effect from 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on August 7.
Tariffs imposed on India's neighbouring countries are less than India's 25 per cent, except for Myanmar at 40 per cent. The new tariffs for Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Japan, and Sri Lanka are 19%, 15%, 20%, 19%, 15%, and 20%, respectively.
Meanwhile, the government told the Parliament on Thursday that it is examining the impact of the recent events and will take all necessary steps to safeguard the national interest.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal made a statement in the lower House of Parliament a day after Trump announced the tariff. He later made a similar statement in the Rajya Sabha.
Goyal said the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is holding talks with exporters, industries and all stakeholders and gathering information on their assessment of this issue. (ANI)