Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday, August 1, 2025, strongly criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent comments on the U.S. tariffs, claiming they revealed an “anti-India” mindset. Speaking at a press conference in Guwahati, Sarma said that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been handling global diplomatic relations with poise and ensuring India engages with other nations on equal footing, Gandhi is tarnishing the country’s image.

The criticism comes in response to Gandhi’s remarks made on July 30, where he echoed U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement, calling the Indian economy "dead." Gandhi also accused the government of avoiding the issue and failing to address the significant 25% tariffs and penalties imposed by the United States, which came into effect on August 1, 2025. He claimed that apart from the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister, no one in the government dares to talk about the struggling state of the economy.

Reacting to these statements, Sarma said Gandhi’s recent comments went beyond political rivalry with the BJP. “For the past week, Rahul Gandhi has been fully exposed. Earlier, people assumed he was only against the BJP, but now they see that he harbours an anti-India stance,” the Chief Minister stated.

Sarma accused Gandhi of defaming the country at a time when the government is navigating complex global economic and geopolitical challenges. He suggested that the Congress leader's remarks serve to damage India’s reputation on the international stage, undermining the country’s efforts to address trade disputes through diplomatic channels.