Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday claimed that there are some who think they are “sabke [everyone’s] boss”, adding that they are trying to make Indian goods expensive because “they do not like the rapid development of India”.
It was unclear who the Bharatiya Janata Party leader was referring to. However, the comment came amid diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Washington after the Donald Trump administration doubled the tariffs on goods imported from India to 50% for purchasing Russian oil.
The doubling of the levies came a week after Trump announced a 25% levy on Indian goods as part of the so-called reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries that have not finalised separate trade agreements with the US.
Speaking at an event in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district on Saturday, Singh said that when India “used to say that we would become the world’s largest economy, people used to make fun of us”.
He claimed that the world had now accepted that India was progressing fastest under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. “Everyone has accepted this reality,” he said.
However, the Union minister claimed that there was an effort to make Indian goods expensive so that they are not bought by consumers in other countries.
“There are some people who do not like the rapid development of India,” Singh said. “They don’t like it [because they feel]: We are everyone’s boss, how is India growing so rapidly?”
He added: “There are many who are trying to do something so that when things made by Indians in India go to other countries, they become more expensive than things made in those countries.”
In response to Trump’s levies, New Delhi had said that it was “extremely unfortunate” that the US had chosen to impose additional tariffs on India “for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest”.
“We reiterate that these actions are unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,” the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson had said on August 6. “India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests.”
Also read: Russian oil imports: What are India’s options as US threatens further tariffs?
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