Mumbai: As the world debates the validity of Donald Trump-directed overnight strikes on Caracas and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, there have been ripples in India too.
Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan sparked a controversy with a bizarre comment linking the US action on Venezuela to India.
Referring to the military action in Venezuela by US Special Forces, former Maharashtra chief minister Chavan wondered whether similar coercive pressure could be directed at India.
“The question then is: what next? Will something like what happened in Venezuela happen in India? Will Mr Trump kidnap our prime minister?” Chavan said while criticising US trade policy towards India.
Chavan said that a 50 per cent tariff will effectively cripple India-US trade.
“Since a direct ban cannot be imposed, tariffs have been used as a tool to stop trade. India will have to bear this. The profits that our people earlier earned from exports to the US will no longer be available. We will have to look for alternative markets and efforts in that direction are already underway,” Chavan.
His comment drew a sharp backlash from the BJP, which accused the Congress of undermining India’s sovereignty.
“CONGRESS SINKS TO NEW LOW EVERYDAY. Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan shamelessly comparing India’s situation with Venezuela. By asking whether ‘what happened in Venezuela can happen in India’, Congress is making its anti-India mindset clear. Rahul Gandhi wants chaos in Bharat. Rahul Gandhi is seeking foreign intervention in Bharat’s affairs!” BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari wrote on X.
On Monday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge launched a fresh attack on Modi’s government, citing comments by Trump on India’s purchase of Russian oil.
“I do not understand why Modi is bending before him. This is harmful for the nation…You were not elected as prime minister to nod to whatever he says,” Kharge said.
Flagging developments in Venezuela, Kharge warned against “expansionist” behaviour and attempts to intimidate sovereign nations.
“Whoever attempts expansionism does not continue for long. People like Hitler and Mussolini are gone. It is not right that several people who harbour ill thoughts try to disrupt global peace,” Kharge said.
