New Delhi: The Central government is upset, exporters have been hit hard and Indians, in general, are angry with Donald Trump for imposing 50% tariffs, including an additional 25% penalty for purchasing Russian oil.
Amid an anti-American mood in the country, Baba Ramdev launched a fiery attack against the US President’s move to penalise India so harshly.
Calling the decision “political bullying, hooliganism, and dictatorship”, the yoga guru urged fellow-Indians to boycott American companies and fast-food giants.
“Not a single Indian should be seen at the counters of Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Subway, KFC, or McDonald’s. There should be such a massive boycott,” ANI quoted Ramdev as saying.
Ramdev predicted that a mass boycott of these American outlets will unleash “chaos” in the US.
“If this happens, chaos will ensue in America. Inflation will increase in America to the point where Trump himself may have to retract these tariffs. Trump has committed a blunder by turning against India,” Ramdev opined.
“Indian citizens should strongly oppose the 50 per cent tariffs that America has imposed on India. American companies and brands should be completely boycotted,” he stressed.
India accused of ‘getting into bed’ with authoritarians
The US has repeatedly accused India of directly fuelling Moscow’s war in Ukraine by continued purchase of discounted Russian crude.
In fact, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro accused India of “getting in bed with authoritarians,” warning that New Delhi was aligning itself with China and Russia even as trade tensions with Washington was reaching boiling point.
His remarks came hours after America’s 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods came into effect.