US President Trump says he could travel to India next year
New York/Washington(PTI): US President Donald Trump said he could travel to India next year, emphasising that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi “wants” him to visit while calling him a “great man” and a friend.
“He's (PM Modi) a friend of mine, and we speak... He wants me to go there. We'll figure that out. I'll go. I will have a great trip there with Prime Minister Modi, he’s a great man. And I'll be going,” Trump said at the Oval Office on Thursday in response to a question.
When asked if he is planning to go to India next year, Trump said, “It could be, yeah.”
India will host leaders from Australia, Japan, and the United States for the Quad summit in New Delhi after the 2024 summit was held in Wilmington, Delaware.
However, the dates for the summit in India are yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, President Trump once again claimed that India has stopped buying from Russia.
"It’s great, going good. He (PM Modi) stopped... Largely he stopped buying oil from Russia,” Trump said in response to a question on how talks with Modi and trade discussions with India are progressing.
Trump imposed 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on India and an additional 25 per cent levies for Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, bringing the total duties imposed on India to 50 per cent.
India had described the US action as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable" while maintaining that its energy policy is guided by its own national interest.
In his remarks before the press, Trump also reiterated his claim that he stopped the war between India and Pakistan in May using trade.
“Of the eight wars I ended, I would say five or six were ended because of tariffs. I'll give you an example. If you take a look at India and Pakistan, they started to fight, they are two nuclear nations... They were shooting each other. Eight planes were shot down. It was seven. Now it is eight, because the one that was sort of shot down is now abandoned. Eight planes were shot down.
“And I said, 'Listen, if you guys are going to fight, I'm gonna put tariffs on you’. And they both went, you know, they were not happy about that. And within 24 hours, I settled the war. If I didn't have tariffs, I wouldn't have been able to settle that war,” Trump said.
The president also termed tariffs a "great national defence".
Since May 10, when Trump announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a “full and immediate ceasefire" after a “long night” of talks mediated by Washington, he has repeated his claim over 60 times that he “helped settle” the tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
India has consistently denied any third-party intervention.
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.
India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.
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Petrol, diesel price hike 'Modi's gift', country has come to 'tragic situation': Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Terming the petrol and diesel price hike as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "gift", Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said the country has come to a "tragic situation."
He also criticised the PM's call for fuel saving, postponement of gold purchases, among other measures to spend wisely.
Petrol and diesel prices were hiked by Rs 3 per litre each on Friday, the first rate increase in more than four years, amid mounting losses of fuel retailers due to surging global crude prices in the wake of the West Asia conflict.
The increase comes 16 days after Assembly elections concluded in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
"Petrol and diesel price hike is Modi's gift. He has failed in international relationships. He has not maintained a good relationship with anyone in the neighbourhood. Now he is asking people of the country to limit the petrol use, not to purchase gold, minimise edible oil consumption. How can it be stopped or limited," Shivakumar asked.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "It cannot be done. The country has come to a tragic situation. We have to save and protect this country."
People earn, and lead their lives accordingly. "No one can be controlled. It should be ensured that people lead their lives smoothly with whatever they have," he further said.
Emphasising that the Centre is trying to shield people from the adverse impact of the conflict in West Asia, PM Modi on Sunday called for judicious use of fuel, postponement of gold purchases and foreign travel, among other measures, to strengthen the economy.
Alleging Modi has failed in international relationships, the Deputy CM said, "He could not manage well, he could not help. That's the reason he has made a certain appeal to people, like he did during the Covid to light the lamp, ring the bell. It is not possible. How can I stop consumption of oil in my house? How can I stop using vehicle?"
"The Prime Minister might have reduced his security to two vehicles, fine. Let others do it across the country," he said, adding, "How can you say people should not travel outside? It is their pleasure their earnings. People travel with their earnings. It is very unfortunate (to ask people not to travel outside)."
Further noting that every woman wants to have at least a gold chain for their Mangalya or Mangalsutra, Shivakumar asked how they can be stopped from buying gold for a Mangalya chain. "It is not fair."
