‘What kind of Vishwaguru is this’: Tejashwi questions Centre on Trump’s tariff terror

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, terming US President Donald Trump’s decision to hike tariffs on Indian goods to 50% a severe blow to national dignity and economic interests, lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence on the matter.

Yadav wondered why the prime minister has not refuted Trump’s repeated claim that he had brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan publicly. “Trump has slapped a 50% tariff (on Indian imports), and the prime minister hasn’t said a word—not even to deny Trump’s repeated falsehoods. Has our leadership become so weak that it bends to American pressure,” he asked, accusing Modi of capitulating under US pressure.

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The leader of the Opposition in the Bihar assembly took a dig at the ruling BJP for promoting the idea of India as a ‘Vishwaguru’ while failing to resist actions that, he claimed, actively harmed the country. “A 50% tariff will hit our economy hard—textiles, leather, fisheries, chemicals—and yet they stay silent. Then they come to Bihar to boast of global leadership. What kind of Vishwaguru is this,” he asked.

However, India officially condemned the tariff hike, albeit belatedly, calling it “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.” The Ministry of External Affairs pointed out that India’s energy imports from Russia—cited by Trump as the reason behind the move—were guided by national interests and market dynamics. The additional duties, expected to take effect in 21 days, target key export sectors and have triggered a sharp diplomatic response from New Delhi.

Following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of an unprecedented tariff on the import of Indian goods, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday assured that India would “never compromise on the interests of farmers, fishermen, and dairy producers”.

He said, “For us, the interest of our farmers is our top priority. India will never compromise on the interests of farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers. I know personally, I will have to pay a heavy price for it, but I am ready for it. Today, India is ready for the country’s farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers.”

PM Modi made these remarks while speaking at the M S Swaminathan Centenary International Conference in New Delhi.

Trump puts additional 25% tariffs

In a major blow to India’s trade interests, President Trump on Wednesday announced an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, effective August 27. The latest hike comes on top of a similar 25% tariff declared last week, further escalating trade tensions between the two countries.

In his last week’s announcement, Trump had also warned of possible penalties on India for its continued purchases of Russian energy and defence equipment.

India has strongly condemned the move, calling it “unjustified and unreasonable,” and has accused both the United States and the European Union of selectively targeting New Delhi for maintaining trade relations with Russia.

“Irregularities” in Bihar SIR exercise

Alleging large-scale irregularities in Bihar Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Yadav claimed that over 100 voters are registered under a single address and names of even deceased are added to the rolls.

He further alleged that the names of genuine voters’ are deleted, undermining electoral integrity. “We are receiving complaints from various places that at one address, there are more than 100 voters. Names of dead voters are added. Names of many genuine voters have been deleted…The reality is that the Booth Level Officers (BLO) filed the forms themselves, signing and uploading the documents without carrying out a survey on the ground…”

On the various announcements made by the Bihar government of late, he says, “This is a copycat government… They don’t have any scheme of their own.”

He accused the BLOs of not conducting field verification, yet filling and uploading forms themselves.

On the governance model of Bihar, Yadav called it a “copycat government” that lacks original schemes or ideas.