CPI(M) Slams BJP for Yielding to U.S. Protectionism

Quick Summary:

• The CPI(M) State commitee condemned the BJP-led Union government’s response to U.S. tariffs imposed by President Trump on Indian imports.
• U.S.imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods like cashew, seafood, marine products, and spices while Pakistan faced only 19%.
• CPI(M) claimed these protectionist measures could harm Indian industries including leather, pharmaceuticals, jewelry exports, and jobs in software engineering.
• The party accused the BJP government of prioritizing alignment with U.S. capitalist interests over national economic welfare.
• It alleged that India was penalized for importing Russian crude oil while the U.S. continued trade in Russian fertilizers and uranium.
• Protests will be held across Kerala against PM Modi’s perceived submission to U.S policies; effigies of Trump will be burned during demonstrations.
• Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan alongside CPI(M) leaders attended internal committee discussions.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The CPI(M)’s critique reflects ongoing tensions over India’s balancing act between global powers like the United states and Russia amid broader geopolitical dynamics. Protectionist tariffs by the U.S., ostensibly linked to India’s energy trade with Russia, bring forth significant challenges for sectors central to India’s export economy-including agriculture-based products from Kerala and also software services dominated by tech talent.

While protests symbolize dissatisfaction from political opposition regarding foreign policy handling by the BJP government under Modi’s leadership, this situation could push India towards reassessing retaliatory mechanisms or regional partnerships to minimize economic dependencies on tariff-driven markets like the United States.

Nonetheless of partisan framing surrounding nationalism or servility accusations against Modi’s administration, safeguarding jobs in both traditional agricultural sectors and emerging tech is an immediate imperative requiring collective strategic deliberations across various political strata.

Read more: August 07, 2025 – Published at 07:50 pm IST