By Kavita Mistry 
New Delhi: The Congress Thursday demanded a “decisive response” from the Centre on US President Donald Trump’s latest remarks that he doesn’t want Apple to manufacture products in India, saying it amounted to targeting the country’s economic growth.
The party also asked whether there was a connection between Trump’s latest claim that New Delhi had offered to drop tariffs on American goods to zero, and the halt in Operation Sindoor.
“Will the Prime Minister break his silence and condemn this blatant insult? First, Trump questioned India’s sovereignty—claiming we agreed to a ceasefire in exchange for trade. Now, he’s targeting our economic growth and investments. This isn’t just rhetoric; it’s a direct challenge to India’s autonomy and global standing. The Modi government must respond decisively…” the Congress posted on X.
Chandigarh MP and senior Congress leader Manish Tewari also said that Trump’s claims on India offering a zero tariff deal to Washington needs an explicit answer from the government.
The Kerala unit of the Congress went a step further, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “compromised” India’s national interest in its fight against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism after receiving a call from Trump, who has claimed that his administration had urged India and Pakistan to cease hostilities.
“The Commerce Minister is in Washington DC and President Trump has made yet another grand announcement from Doha. There is total chuppi from our PM. What has he agreed to and what linkage is there between this and the stoppage of Operation Sindoor?” Congress general secretary (communication) Jairam Ramesh wrote on X.
Speaking at an interaction with business executives in Doha, the capital of Qatar, which he is visiting, Trump Thursday claimed that India has proposed a trade deal that will bring down tariffs on US goods to zero. Trump also said that he does not want Apple to manufacture products in industrial units in India.
The Centre is yet to respond to Trump’s latest remarks on tariffs. The principal opposition Congress, however, latched on to his remarks that came at a time when Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is heading to the US to hold trade negotiations.
US president’s remarks, the Kerala unit of the Congress suggested that the country has not benefited from the PM’s foreign visits, including to the US, over the last decade.
“Modi has visited the United States exactly 10 times, almost once every year. He has hugged Trump, Biden, and Trump again…Our foreign policy had no substance – only optics, crafted to sell the image of a self-styled strongman alias Vishwaguru,” it posted.
“Apart from hugging world leaders and posing for reels and photos, what actual benefits have we seen? Have we received cheaper defence deals? Have we got any major technology transfers? Have we got a higher place in any elite international grouping? Have we got better tariff deals? The answer is no,” the Kerala Congress said in another X post.
On Wednesday, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) had adopted a resolution expressing surprise over the “abrupt end” to India’s retaliatory action against Pakistan, saying that it left behind a trail of unanswered questions. The party has demanded that Centre convene an all-party meeting and a special session of the Parliament to come clean on the issue.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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