‘Will Trump Kidnap PM Modi Like Venezuela?’ Congress Leader’s Shocker On US Tariffs, BJP Reacts

US President Donald Trump with PM Modi. (Photo: Reuters/File)

Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan triggered a political storm by linking US tariffs on India to developments in Venezuela, escalating the Congress’s attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi a day after party chief Mallikarjun Kharge cited remarks by US President Donald Trump.

Prithviraj Chavan said a proposed 50 per cent tariff would effectively freeze India–US trade, adding, “With a 50 per cent tariff, trade is simply not possible. In effect, this amounts to blocking India–US trade, especially exports from India to the United States.”

“Since a direct ban cannot be imposed, tariffs have been used as a tool to stop trade. India will have to bear this,” Prithviraj Chavan added, warning that Indian exporters would lose access to profits earned from the American market.

He said, “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.”

However, it was his speculative “what next” remark that drew the sharpest reactions.

Referring to US military action in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro, Prithviraj Chavan asked whether similar coercive tactics could ever 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?” he said, referring to US President Donald Trump.

The BJP responded with fury, accusing the Congress of undermining India’s sovereignty. BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “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!”

Prithviraj Chavan’s remarks came after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge launched a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing comments by Donald Trump on India’s purchase of Russian oil.

Mallikarjun Kharge referred to an audio clip in which Donald Trump claimed India had shown willingness to reduce Russian oil imports after the US imposed steep tariffs last year on countries buying oil from Moscow, which Washington views as the aggressor in the Ukraine conflict. According to Mallikarjun Kharge, Donald Trump was heard saying, “Modi wanted to make me happy,” a remark the Congress chief said reflected the US President’s unconventional style of dealing even with heads of state.

“I do not understand why Modi is bending before him. This is harmful for the nation,” Mallikarjun Kharge said, adding, “You were not elected as prime minister to nod to whatever he says.”

Mallikarjun Kharge also voiced concern over recent developments in Venezuela, warning against what he described as “expansionist” tendencies and attempts to intimidate 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,” he said.