NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday launched a pointy assault on Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying “Why is Modi afraid” following US President Donald Trump’s remarks threatening elevated tariffs on India over its continued oil commerce with Russia. The celebration questioned PM Modi’s silence, alleging that overseas coverage below the BJP authorities had change into extra about optics than nationwide curiosity.Congress normal secretary Jairam Ramesh in a submit on X stated, “A lot for Howdy Modi. A lot for Namaste Trump. A lot for Ab ki Baar Trump Sarkar. A lot for BJP MPs hailing Narendra Modi as India’s trumpcard.”Jairam Ramesh added, “Regardless of all of the hugs, all of the handshakes, all of the high-decibel bromance — ‘My good friend Dolaand’ has delivered one more jolt.” He questioned what got here of the “much-vaunted” front-row seat at Trump’s inauguration or the prime minister being one of many first world leaders to go to the White Home. “Tariffs are being slapped. Negotiations are going nowhere,” he stated, additionally referring to Pakistan Military chief Asim Munir’s latest White Home go to.“That is what occurs when overseas coverage turns into about image-building, not nationwide curiosity,” Ramesh wrote.In the meantime, in a separate submit on X, the Congress celebration instantly questioned the Prime Minister, saying, “Now Narendra Modi’s good friend Trump has brazenly threatened India. Trump has stated that he’ll impose much more tariffs on India.”“Trump claims India is shopping for massive portions of oil from Russia and making big income by promoting it. India doesn’t care about these being killed in Ukraine. Trump is talking out in opposition to India day-after-day, and Narendra Modi is quietly listening to all of it. Why is Modi so afraid of Trump?” the submit learn.The political row comes after Donald Trump, in a Reality Social submit, stated India was benefiting from the warfare in Ukraine and warned of a considerable tariff hike. “India shouldn’t be solely shopping for huge quantities of Russian oil, they’re then, for a lot of the oil bought, promoting it on the open marketplace for large income. They don’t care how many individuals in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian warfare machine. Due to this, I can be considerably elevating the tariff paid by India to the USA,” Trump wrote.The assertion follows earlier warnings from Trump a couple of 25 per cent tariff on India for its vitality and defence transactions with Russia.White Home deputy chief of Employees Stephen Miller echoed the sentiment in a Fox Information interview, accusing India of being “mainly tied with China” in oil imports from Russia. “Folks could be shocked… That is astonishing,” Miller stated, alleging India additionally imposed excessive tariffs on US items and had violated immigration norms.Final week, Trump criticised India’s commerce insurance policies, calling its obstacles “essentially the most strenuous and obnoxious” globally. He additionally remarked that India and Russia may “take their useless economies down collectively, for all I care.”Whereas Trump later claimed India could have halted Russian oil imports, he added, “That’s what I heard… however I don’t know if that’s proper or not.”India has not confirmed any change in its oil commerce with Russia. On Friday, exterior affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated vitality selections have been based mostly on market pricing and world circumstances. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal informed Parliament that India will act to guard its nationwide curiosity.