Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the ongoing trade dispute between India and the United States. Kharge alleged that while Modi maintains close ties with former US president Donald Trump, his government has failed to safeguard India’s economic interests.

The comments came in the backdrop of recent tariff disagreements that could hurt Indian exports to the American market. Kharge said the government’s weak negotiation strategy has left Indian businesses and farmers at risk. He accused the prime minister of giving preference to personal diplomacy instead of focusing on the nation’s trade concerns.

“The country is bearing the burden of the government’s flawed policies,” Kharge remarked, adding that the Centre must work to protect domestic industries rather than concentrate on image-building abroad.

The opposition has repeatedly questioned the government’s economic approach in global forums. With tariff disputes still unresolved, the impact on Indian trade continues to fuel political debate at home.