New Delhi: The Congress party on Friday criticised both the Narendra Modi government and the United States, responding to remarks by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about the stalled India-US trade deal.
Congress leaders employed a mix of bollywood-style wordplay and diplomatic commentary in their reactions. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh posted a video on social media quoting Lutnick’s comments and quipped in Hindi, “Hug hug na raha, post post na raha” and “Kya se kya ho gaya, bewafa teri dosti mein,” implying a deterioration in the personal rapport between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US leadership that, in his view, contributed to the deal’s failure.
Hug हग ना रहा
Post पोस्ट ना रहाक्या से क्या हो गया बेवफ़ा तेरे दोस्ती में pic.twitter.com/ofy0ML28bx
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) January 9, 2026
Another Congress MP, Manish Tewari, criticised the idea that the fate of major international negotiations hinges on who initiates a phone call. He described that approach as “very imbecile,” arguing that India-US relations are deep, strategic and civilisational in nature, extending beyond individual interactions between leaders. Speaking to PTI, Tewari said the US should appreciate India’s broader role in the Asia-Pacific and beyond, rather than reducing complex diplomacy to personal phone calls.
The remarks from Congress were triggered by Howard Lutnick’s interview on the All-In Podcast, where he stated that a trade deal between India and the United States couldn’t be finalised because Prime Minister Modi did not call then-US President Donald Trump at a crucial juncture. Lutnick claimed the Trump administration was willing to conclude an agreement but that New Delhi “couldn’t get it done when they needed to,” adding that talks were effectively set up to succeed only if the leadership engagement happened as expected.
Lutnick also outlined a tiered approach to US trade negotiations, suggesting that early movers in trade discussions get more favourable terms, with subsequent partners being offered progressively higher tariff rates.
Despite multiple rounds of talks throughout 2025 — including in-person discussions and a December visit by a US trade delegation led by Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer — no agreement has been concluded. In the absence of a trade deal, the Trump administration’s 50% tariff on Indian exports remains in force, including penalties tied to India’s purchase of Russian energy
