New Delhi, Aug 7
Leaders across India's political spectrum on Thursday strongly reacted to US President Donald Trump's announcement of imposing a punitive 25 per cent tariff on India for continuing to buy oil from Russia -- a move that would raise total tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent.
In a sharp rebuke, Indian leaders questioned Washington's authority to "punish" sovereign countries for pursuing independent foreign policy and warned that retaliatory measures would be considered if the tariffs were not rolled back.
Trump was singling out India, even though countries like China and Turkey continue to import oil from Russia.
India officially described the move as "extremely unfortunate", saying it was being penalised for actions that "several other countries are also taking in their own national interest."
Reacting to the developments, BJP MP Shashank Mani Tripathi told, "I believe it is wrong for any country to impose tariffs on another simply because it maintains good relations with a third country. The US itself continues to buy a significant amount from Russia. The US cannot punish other countries -- it doesn't have the authority. I believe that Trump would be forced to take back all the tariffs imposed on our democratic nation."