India News : Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat took a sharp dig at former U.S. President Donald Trump over the record-high tariffs imposed on Indian exports. Addressing a gathering in Nagpur, Bhagwat said the American response reflects fear of India’s growing global influence.
“They are scared. What happens to them if India becomes big? So, they impose tariffs,” Bhagwat remarked. He suggested that such decisions stem from insecurity and a zero-sum mindset between nations — “I must have it, not you.” In contrast, he said, the world needs solutions, and “India is the only nation that can guide the world in the right direction.”
Praising the resilience of Indian society, Bhagwat noted, “Even in scarcity, Indians remain content. And when conditions improve, their outlook stays positive.”
The comments come in the wake of the United States implementing its highest-ever tariffs on Indian goods in 2025. Citing a “reciprocal tariff policy,” President Trump’s administration introduced the first wave in July, effective from August 1, to counter India’s high import duties and trade imbalance. A second round followed in August, justified by India’s continued oil imports from Russia — which the U.S. claims indirectly funds the war in Ukraine. The cumulative effect has pushed U.S. tariffs on Indian exports up to 50%, marking the steepest levies imposed on any major trading partner.
