New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up two critical issues—US tariffs on Indian exports and the treatment of Indian immigrants—during his meeting with US President Donald Trump.
Kharge raised concerns over the US administration’s decision to impose a 25% tariff on steel and aluminium imports, emphasizing its impact on India’s manufacturing sector.
“A 25% tariff on aluminium and steel imports with ‘no exemptions, no exceptions’ for any country has serious repercussions for India’s manufacturing. We must build closer trade ties for both countries with a mutually beneficial framework, given that the US is one of our biggest trading partners,” Kharge wrote on X.
The White House, in a press note, defended the tariff hike, stating that President Trump was taking action to end “unfair trade practices and the global dumping of steel and aluminium.” The move has triggered global criticism, with the European Union threatening countermeasures and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling the tariffs “entirely unjustifiable.”
In addition to trade concerns, Kharge highlighted the “traumatic deportation” of Indian immigrants from the US, where many were reportedly handcuffed and chained during removal proceedings.
“PM Modi must stress that any Indian national must not be humiliated and must be treated with utmost dignity,” Kharge asserted.
Over 100 deported Indian migrants recently arrived in Amritsar, Punjab, as part of the Trump administration’s removal orders. The US has issued final deportation notices to 487 individuals presumed to be Indian citizens. According to a Pew Research Center report, India had 7,25,000 unauthorized immigrants in the US by 2022, making it the third-highest after Mexico and El Salvador.
