Govt hasn't done anything to soften tariff blow: Congress

New Delhi: As the 50% US tariffs on India came into force on Wednesday, the opposition Congress slammed the government for its failure to clinch a trade deal due to "superficial foreign policy engagements" and said the Prime Minister had done nothing to soften the tariff blow, even as it warned about a crisis in key export sectors and loss of jobs.

Targeting PM Narendra Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Indian national interest is supreme. A robust foreign policy needs substance and deft, but your superficial foreign policy engagements - smiles, hugs and selfies have hurt our interests. You failed in securing a trade deal. Now you are failing to protect our country."

He further said, "We will lose an estimated ₹2.17 lakh cr as the first jolt to this tariff, across 10 sectors alone. Our farmers, especially cotton farmers, are badly hit. You (PM) had said you are ready to pay any 'personal price' to protect them, but you have done absolutely nothing to soften the blow and protect their livelihoods. Global Trade Research Initiative suggests that almost 1% of our GDP could be impacted."

Party spokesman Jairam Ramesh also pointed to the uncertainty over H-1B visas. "Over the last twenty four hours, the US commerce secretary has also spoken out against the H-1B visa system, of which the biggest beneficiaries have been Indian IT professionals. This has been one of the key demands of the MAGA (Make America Great Again) base of President Trump, the same MAGA which PM Modi in February this year used in his supposedly winning formula MAGA+ MIGA=MEGA...," he said.