CM Siddaramaiah calls Trump’s tariff move 'economic blackmail', slams Modi for 'headline management'
Bengaluru, Aug 7 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday claimed that US President Donald Trump’s 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods was "economic blackmail", blaming it on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on "headline management" rather than prioritising real diplomacy and national interest.
Targeting the Centre, Siddaramaiah alleged that the Modi government had repeatedly ignored "prescient warnings" by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and called on the prime minister to "grow up and act in India’s interest."
Gandhi had on Wednesday described Trump’s move as an attempt to bully India into an unfair trade deal. He also criticised the additional 25 per cent penalty announced for India’s purchase of Russian oil, saying Modi "must not allow Indian interests to be overridden."
Backing Gandhi’s remarks, Siddaramaiah wrote on 'X', "I fully agree with @RahulGandhi. Be it GST, demonetisation, Chinese aggression, the Modani nexus, COVID failures, farm laws, Rafale, PM CARES, or electoral bonds—Rahul Gandhi called them out early. The BJP mocked him, but he was proven right again and again."
"His warning on Trump’s 50 per cent tariff is no different. It is economic blackmail—the result of PM @narendramodi prioritising headline management over real diplomacy and national interest," the chief minister claimed.
Siddaramaiah claimed that since 2019, Modi had gone out of his way to please Trump—from raising the slogan "Abki Baar Trump Sarkar," (This time, a Trump government), at the 'Howdy Modi' event, to hosting the 'Namaste Trump' rally despite a looming Covid threat, and coining the phrase "Make India Great Again (MIGA)+Make America Great Again (MAGA) equals MEGA."
He also cited Modi’s outreach to Elon Musk despite Musk’s proximity to Trump.
"But Trump wasn’t impressed. He saw it not as diplomacy, but surrender," Siddaramaiah alleged.
"He (Trump) did exactly what a true friend wouldn’t: claimed 33 times that he brokered peace between India and Pakistan, hosted Pakistan’s Army Chief—the man whose hate speeches led to the Pahalgam terror attack—and backed Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza. PM Modi remained silent through it all, to stay in Washington’s good books. No protest. No pushback. No dignity," he alleged.
Siddaramaiah said Trump had now imposed unfair tariffs on India and was attempting to coerce the country into cutting ties with Russia, calling it a "direct attack on our sovereignty".
"No foreign power can dictate our trade choices. This is the cost of running foreign policy like a personal PR campaign," he claimed.
The chief minister also invoked the stance of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from the 1970s.
"Instead of attacking her legacy, PM Modi should learn from it. India must uphold its strategic autonomy with dignity—not surrender it for photo-ops," he claimed.
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Guv Gehlot wants hate speech and hate crimes bill shelved, says Minister Parameshwara
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday alleged that Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has referred the Hate Speech and Hate Crime (Prevention) Bill to the President Droupadi Murmu to dump it in cold storage.
According to the Bill, any expression which is made, published or circulated in words, either spoken or written or by signs or by visible representations or through electronic communication or otherwise, in public view, with an intention to cause injury, disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will against person alive or dead, class or group of persons or community, to meet any prejudicial interest, is hate speech.
The bill seeks at least seven years jail term and a maximum penalty of Rs one lakh.
The bill was passed by both the Houses during the winter session in Belagavi and was sent to Gehlot towards the end of December 2025.
Speaking to reporters here, Parameshwara said the Governor has questioned 28 points in bill and has referred it to the President.
"If the President sends back to us with her observations, then we will do something and send it again (for gubernatorial assent)," he said.
The minister explained that the bill was brought consciously and not just like that.
"We have freedom of speech, but that does not mean that one can say anything. We have to see how it impacts our society. Hence, the bill was introduced," he sought to know.
According to him, there were instances of hate speech, which made the government think of bringing a law.
Targeting the BJP, he said, "If you (BJP) still say that this is not proper, then what are your motives? Should it mean that anyone can abuse anyone? Should we allow any disturbance in society?"
He alleged that the Governor wants this bill is never implemented.
"In my opinion, the Governor has intentionally referred it to the President, so that it does not come into effect. He wants it to be shelved forever," Parameshwara said.
When reporters asked him that the same is happening in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, he said, "Let's see what happens in the coming days. I think things will improve."
