United States threw a heavy punch at India’s economy by announcing a 50 percent tariff on goods from India. This wasn’t just another round of trade disputes; it was a body blow aimed at India’s exporters, small manufacturers, and the country’s growing global clout. When a move of this scale threatens livelihoods at home, the obvious need of the hour is national unity.
This is precisely what Malini Parthasarathy, Director, The Hindu Group, called for when she said the country must stand behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government in this moment of extreme duress. She is right. More than that, she is stating what should be common sense. Yet, astonishingly, the Congress Party has chosen this very moment to sharpen its knives and indulge in petty attacks.
Disgusted by this new hawkishness of @INCIndia . The country should stand by @narendramodi & his government when we are under extreme duress as a result of the Trump-inflicted blow to India’s basic economic interests.
— Malini Parthasarathy (@MaliniP) August 27, 2025
The fact that PM Modi has sacrificed his friendship with the… https://t.co/L5kgYGKRFI
A Blow That Demands Unity
The new tariffs will hurt everyone from a textile worker in Surat to a pharmaceutical exporter in Hyderabad. For thousands of MSMEs already stretched thin by global volatility, the American decision could mean lost orders, shuttered factories, and layoffs. Big economies like the U.S. always calculate such decisions carefully. They know that tariffs on Indian goods will create panic, lower confidence, and put pressure on the government to bend.
In such a scenario, a divided political front is the worst possible message. Unity tells Washington that India will negotiate from strength; division signals weakness. Malini’s disgust at the Congress Party’s hawkish posturing comes from exactly this understanding.
Congress’s Old Habit of Playing Spoiler
Sadly, this is not new behavior. The Congress Party has, time and again, put politics above patriotism. During Kargil, they questioned the government’s handling of the war. During the nuclear deal with the U.S., they threw tantrums instead of rising to the occasion. When India carried out surgical strikes, they mocked and doubted instead of applauding.
And now, when the U.S. has launched a direct economic offensive, Rahul Gandhi’s first instinct is to blame Modi rather than stand with the country. He calls the tariffs a “failure of diplomacy,” as if any leader could prevent America’s internal politics from spilling into trade. This is not statesmanship; it is cheap opportunism.
Rahul Gandhi’s Empty Hawkishness
Rahul Gandhi has built a career on being contrarian for the sake of being contrarian. He likes to sound aggressive, but his aggression is hollow. Instead of offering ideas, he offers noise. Instead of showing solidarity, he shows bitterness.
Let’s be honest, Rahul Gandhi’s foreign forays have always raised eyebrows. He runs to Europe or the U.S. to complain about India’s government, speaks the language of Western pressure groups, and then comes back to lecture Indians about democracy. But when push comes to shove, when the West turns its guns on Indian interests, he is suddenly helpless, reduced to finger-pointing at Modi.
This is not hawkishness. This is cowardice dressed as politics.
Modi’s Track Record in Crisis
Whatever one’s personal political preferences may be, Modi has proven his ability to navigate crises. Whether it was Galwan in 2020, the Ukraine war’s economic fallout, or the COVID-19 supply chain challenges, his government has shown a capacity to absorb shocks and bounce back stronger.
India under Modi has also built new trade channels in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. In fact, the tariff crisis is the very moment to double down on diversification, to reduce dependence on any single market, and to accelerate the Atmanirbhar Bharat project. These are not slogans anymore; they are necessities.
What is required now is a steady hand, not cheap theatrics. And only Modi’s government can provide that hand.
Why Malini’s Warning Matters
What Malini Parthasarathy voiced is not just her personal frustration. It reflects a deeper fatigue in the public mind. Indians are tired of watching Congress behave like a permanent protest party. They are tired of Rahul Gandhi’s juvenile attacks. They are tired of the sense that, no matter the crisis, Congress will always choose disruption over contribution.
Her words cut through the noise: in times of duress, the nation cannot afford reckless hawkishness from the opposition.
The Larger Question: Who Speaks for India?
The tariff crisis has revealed a stark divide. On one side, a government trying to balance retaliation with diplomacy, aware that India’s strength lies in presenting a united front. On the other, an opposition more concerned about scoring points than standing by the flag.
Rahul Gandhi talks a lot about protecting the poor. Yet his stance here would hurt them the most, because when small industries collapse under tariff shocks, it is workers and daily wage earners who will pay the price. That is the tragedy of his politics: he claims to speak for the vulnerable, but his actions consistently weaken them.
The Choice Before Us
Malini Parthasarathy is correct, and her bluntness should be respected. This is not about liking or disliking Modi; it is about recognizing that the nation is under assault. The U.S. tariffs are aimed at India, not at the BJP, not at Modi personally. Every citizen, every politician, and every party has a stake in ensuring India emerges stronger.
Congress has chosen to sulk and sabotage. Modi is trying to defend and respond. The choice before Indians is simple: stand with a government that is fighting for the nation’s interests, or stand with an opposition that prefers to carp from the sidelines.
History will not forgive those who weaken India in moments like this.
