Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan has ignited a fierce political controversy after drawing a stark parallel between India and Venezuela while criticizing recent U.S. trade policy, prompting an immediate and sharp backlash from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Speaking on the potential impact of steep U.S. tariffs on Indian goods, Chavan invoked recent events in Venezuela and posed a hypothetical scenario. “The question then is: what next? Will something like what happened in Venezuela happen in India? Will Mr Trump kidnap our prime minister?” Chavan said, referring to reported U.S. military actions involving Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Chavan argued that proposed high tariffs, such as a potential 50 per cent levy, would effectively choke bilateral trade, leaving Indian exporters with limited options. “Since a direct ban cannot be imposed, tariffs have been used as a tool to stop trade. India will have to bear this,” he contended.
The BJP responded swiftly, accusing the Congress of undermining India’s sovereignty and projecting weakness on the global stage.
BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari criticized the remarks on social media platform X, calling them a “new low” for the opposition party. “By shamelessly comparing India’s situation with Venezuela, Congress is making its anti-India mindset clear,” he wrote. Bhandari further alleged that the Congress was, through such statements, seeking to invite foreign intervention in India’s internal affairs.
The ruling party framed Chavan’s comments as an insult to India’s democratic resilience, strategic autonomy, and growing global stature.
Chavan’s comments followed a day after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge escalated his attack on the Modi government’s foreign policy. Kharge had cited remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding India’s purchase of Russian oil to question Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic approach.
“I do not understand why Modi is bending before him. This is harmful for the nation,” Kharge stated, adding, “You were not elected as prime minister to nod to whatever he says.”
Kharge also referenced Venezuela, warning against what he termed expansionist tendencies and attempts to intimidate sovereign nations. “Those who believe in expansionism do not last long. History has shown that such thinking ultimately fails,” he said.
The controversy erupts against the backdrop of ongoing trade negotiations and geopolitical realignments. The references to U.S. tariffs highlight the Congress’s attempt to corner the government on economic diplomacy, while the BJP’s counter-attack focuses squarely on the perceived disrespect in comparing India to a nation facing profound political and economic instability.
The incident underscores the increasingly charged nature of political discourse in India, where foreign policy decisions are becoming a central battleground for the ruling party and the opposition, with national pride and sovereignty being key themes.
As the war of words continues, the political fallout from this analogy is likely to reverberate in Parliament and public debate, framing discussions on how India’s foreign policy and national dignity are portrayed both domestically and internationally.
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