Rahul Gandhi again slams Modi government over Trump’s tariffs
The Sunday Mail
New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, once again raised the issue of tariffs and criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government’s policies. After meeting with weavers in Bhadohi, Rahul said in his statement that he had already warned – “Trump’s tariffs are going to come like an economic storm, which will harm millions of people – but Prime Minister Narendra Modi is sitting in hiding.” Today, the weavers of Bhadohi are narrating the ground reality of that warning.
Rahul said that he met with the weavers of Bhadohi – they presented him with a beautiful carpet made by their own hands, which clearly reflects their skill, hard work, and centuries-old art. He said that Bhadohi, once known as the ‘Carpet City’, is now suffering from destitution.
The severe impact of America’s anti-India tariff policy has affected many industries in the country, and Bhadohi’s carpet trade has been almost destroyed by it. Unfortunately, the government has not taken any concrete steps – neither through foreign policy nor through any national plan – to support or revive this industry.
As a result, exports are continuously declining, and business is shifting to countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal. This is the reality of the Prime Minister’s own parliamentary constituency – where the weavers are saying today, “Darkness under the lamp,” because the PM has turned a blind eye to their problems.
This centuries-old art, which is the basis of their trade, is an identity of India and a source of livelihood for millions of people, but today it is a victim of exploitation and government neglect. The situation is so bad that these hardworking families do not even have access to affordable and accessible healthcare facilities. These are the small industries and small businesses I constantly talk about – the ones that create jobs, strengthen the economy, and propel the country forward. Now, the need is to empower these people through policies and economic support, so that these artisans can once again bring glory to India and drive the engine of the country’s economy.
