TMC's Abhishek Banerjee slams Centre over 50% tariff, calls it a 'diplomatic failure'

Kolkata: Calling it a "diplomatic failure", the newly- appointed Trinamool Leader of Lok Sabha and Diamond harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Centre over the imposition of total of 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods by US President Donald Trump and suggested that India should respond to this firmly.

“I believe this is a diplomatic failure, and India should respond firmly to this. A 50% tariff has been imposed on India, and it will have consequences, Banerjee said, adding that the exports will be affected, especially sectors like IT, pharmaceuticals, and textiles. The services around these sectors will also be impacted. Employment will be impacted and the Indian economy will be affected,” Banerjee told reporters at Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport before leaving for New Delhi to attend a meeting of the opposition INDIA bloc.

Abhishek strongly condemned Donald Trump’s observations about the Indian economy. “Trump said that India’s economy is dead. I do not agree with that. No one has the power to kill the Indian economy surviving on the love and affection of 140 crore Indians. I can say that the Indian economy is in the ICU. It has become worse in the last 10 years. By imposing a 50% tariff, there will be substantial job loss and impact on our economy. Exports will come down. This is all because of the poor foreign policy of the Indian government,” Banerjee said.


Taking a dig at the BJP-ruled government at the Centre, the Trinamool national general secretary, said that the Centre must answer why such a steep tariff was imposed.
“Those who want to weaken India and create pressure, how did they suddenly become so powerful? The government that used to boast about its '56-inch chest', despite being in power, has been snubbed by China, the US, and many other countries,” Banerjee pointed out, taking a jibe.

"These questions should be asked to those who click photographs with (US President) Donald Trump. Those who campaigned for Trump should be asked about this. The tariff will severely affect India's economy. This is a diplomatic failure," he said without naming anyone.

Banerjee, the newly appointed leader of TMC in Lok Sabha, said he does not want to discuss these things outside.

“I do not want to say all of this outside. I was part of the all-party delegation and visited five countries. A multilateral forum like ASEAN consists of 11 countries. It includes Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, among others. Let alone putting pressure on Pakistan, they did not even issue a statement condemning Pakistan’s actions,” Banerjee pointed out.

Without naming anyone, Abhishek Banerjee said these questions should be asked to “those people who has pictures with him. Ask these questions to the one because of whom Donald Trump came here to campaign and to those who went to Texas in 2019 to campaign for Trump.”

“Whose failure is this? Who brought Trump here and campaigned for him in Gujarat just a month before COVID-19? Who went to Texas to campaign for Trump? BJP leaders did it. It is there in the media. I think that the people who campaigned for Trump, and he reciprocated by coming to Gujarat in 2020, and the Prime Minister also campaigned for Trump should answer these questions.

“Someone who campaigned for Donald Trump will be in an ideal position and situation, and far more apprised, and will be able to answer with clarity what made Donald Trump and the US government impose a 50% tariff on India. The onus is on him [PM Modi] and the incumbent NDA and BJP government, not Trinamool Congress,” Abhishek said.

It was not Mamata Banerjee nor Trinamool who invited Donald Trump, he noted.

Taking a dig at the Centre, Banerjee said “They [BJP] all spoke of India’s global presence and how India has become a Vishwaguru. Is this how India is being treated? What is stopping us from retaliating? The Home Minister said on the floor of the House that PoK is our integral part. Then what is stopping you from reclaiming PoK? The people of the country are with you. All the Opposition parties are standing shoulder to shoulder with the Union government in this fight. Until and unless you reclaim PoK, this will keep happening.