New Delhi, September 1(HS): The Congress party has launched sharp criticism against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence on Operation Sindoor amid his recent China visit and for the impending economic challenges posed by US tariffs in the second quarter of the fiscal year. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh raised these concerns through multiple posts on the social media platform X, questioning the government’s stance on key issues.
Ramesh described PM Modi’s position in the recent talks with China as “an elephant bowing before the dragon,” highlighting what he perceives as a retreat from India’s historically tough diplomatic posture on terrorism. He pointed out that India has long accused China of double standards on terrorism, yet Modi’s remarks suggesting both countries are victims raise doubts about this shift.
He also charged that Modi did not address the alleged China-Pakistan conspiracy during Operation Sindoor during his meeting with President Xi Jinping, despite public signals from Indian military officials about the seriousness of the issue.
Turning to economic concerns, Ramesh questioned the authenticity of the April-June 2025 GDP growth data, citing a report from a reputed bank highlighting contradictions. He noted persistent weakness in urban consumption, structural constraints in rural demand, and a slower nominal growth rate compared to the previous quarter. Traditional factors like consumption, investment, and trade fail to fully explain the reported 1.8 percentage points of growth, indicating a significant statistical anomaly.
While manufacturing profits have risen, sales continue to decline, Ramesh added. He underscored the hidden impact of US tariff policies under the Trump administration, suggesting that exporters temporarily boosted shipments ahead of tariffs, delaying the economic shock that will manifest in upcoming quarters.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
