'Sab ke boss to hum hain…': Rajnath Singh’s veiled dig at Trump over tariffs, saying "some" are jealous of India’s rapid growth

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took a subtle dig at US President Donald Trump on Sunday over the recent tariff increases on Indian goods. Without naming Trump, Singh said, "Some 'boss' is jealous, unable to accept India's growth; trying to disrupt the country’s economy."

He added, "There are some people who are not happy with the speed at which India is developing. They are not liking it. ‘Sabke boss toh hum hain’ (We are everyone’s boss), how is India growing so fast?"

These remarks came after the US imposed a 25% tariff on Indian goods and an additional 25% penalty due to India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. President Trump also threatened more tariff hikes, called India’s economy “dead,” and New Delhi criticised the US after some aides accused India of supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine.


Rajnath Singh described India’s economy as the world’s most “dashing and dynamic.” He said that some people with the attitude of “we are everyone's boss” are unhappy with India’s rapid growth.


Speaking after a bhoomi pujan (groundbreaking ceremony) of a rail coach manufacturing unit of Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) in Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh, Singh said, “Today, if any country has a dashing and dynamic economy, it is India’s economy.”

He said no global power can stop India from becoming a big power due to the speed at which the country is moving forward.

Singh pointed out that some people want to make Indian products more expensive when they reach other countries. This would stop people worldwide from buying Indian goods. He said, “They think that we are everyone’s boss and how is India moving forward so fast?”

He mentioned that in 2014, India was ranked 11th in terms of economy size, but today it is counted among the top four.

“If any country has a rapidly growing economy, it is our India,” he said. “It means that the country is moving forward and its people are also moving ahead, because if the countrymen do not move forward, India cannot move forward.”

Singh also spoke about defence production. Earlier, India bought defence equipment from other countries. But now, many things are made in India by Indian hands. India not only fulfils its own needs but also exports defence products to other countries.

He said, “When Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014, only Rs 600 crore worth of defence products were exported. Now, we are exporting defence products worth more than Rs 24,000 crore. This is the power of India. This is the new defence sector of the new India.”

Singh also referred to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in April, where 26 people were killed. He said India responded strongly with Operation Sindoor. He said terrorists killed people after asking their religion, but India does not believe in such killings.

“We do not even kill ants,” he said. “We have resolved that we will kill people (terrorists) not by their religion but by their deeds.”

He added, “India will not spare anyone who instigates us.”

On the rail coach unit, Singh said it would be a big gift for Raisen and Vidisha regions in Madhya Pradesh and provide jobs for 5,000 people.

He said Madhya Pradesh is rapidly developing in industries, having recently received investment proposals of more than Rs 30 lakh crore.

“If the leadership is excellent, development happens rapidly. I think that after a few years, people will start calling Madhya Pradesh a modern state,” he said.

Singh said the area around the rail coach unit would also develop quickly once it is ready.

Earlier, he performed the bhoomi pujan for the BEML rail coach unit at Umaria village in Raisen district. The project is called BRAHMA (BEML Rail Hub for Manufacturing) and will cost Rs 1,800 crore. Its initial capacity will be 125 to 200 coaches a year, which is planned to increase to 1,100 coaches a year in five years.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and other officials attended the ceremony. A video message from Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was also shown.

Inputs from agencies