Arvind Kejriwal Takes Aim at PM Modi Over US Tariff Bill: ‘Trump’s Interference Is There in Every Decision’

New Delhi: A fresh political confrontation has erupted over India-US trade relations, with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a proposed US measure threatened steep tariffs on countries continuing to purchase Russian oil.

Kejriwal accused the Modi government of allowing excessive American influence over India’s decision-making, alleging that US President Donald Trump has increasingly shaped India’s policy choices.

His remarks came after the US Senate passed a bill that would allow tariffs of up to 100% to be imposed on five countries, including India, over purchases of Russian oil. The measure argues that such purchases help support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.

Sharing a news report about the legislation on X, Kejriwal launched a sharp attack on the Prime Minister.

He alleged that the government had “submitted to Trump’s slavery” and claimed that India was now facing decisions that could hurt its interests.

Kejriwal further alleged that Modi agrees with Trump “whether right or wrong” and claimed that the US President is taking decisions against India across different areas.

These are Kejriwal’s political allegations and do not by themselves establish that the US government controls India’s policy decisions.

Why the US tariff proposal matters

The proposed tariff measure comes amid continuing international pressure on countries purchasing Russian crude oil.

India has maintained strong economic ties with Russia and significantly increased its purchases of Russian crude after Western sanctions disrupted global energy markets following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

For New Delhi, Russian oil has offered access to discounted supplies and has played an important role in keeping domestic fuel costs under control.

The proposed US tariffs could therefore create another challenge for India’s trade and energy policy if the measure eventually becomes law in its current form.

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Kejriwal brings up ethanol policy

The AAP leader has also previously criticised the Modi government’s E20 ethanol-blending policy.

Kejriwal has alleged that the policy was designed to create a market for surplus American ethanol and accused the government of implementing higher ethanol blending without adequately upgrading infrastructure or ensuring that older vehicles were compatible with increased ethanol content.

The government, however, has promoted ethanol blending as part of India’s efforts to reduce dependence on imported crude oil, cut emissions and support domestic agricultural producers.

Political battle over India-US ties

Kejriwal’s latest attack adds another layer to the opposition’s criticism of the government’s handling of relations with Washington.

The issue is particularly sensitive because tariffs on Indian goods could affect exporters across several sectors, while restrictions linked to Russian oil could have implications for India’s energy security and trade strategy.

Whether the US tariff proposal ultimately becomes law — and what form it takes — remains crucial for New Delhi.

For now, Kejriwal has used the development to renew his broader criticism of the Modi government’s foreign and economic policies, putting India-US relations, Russian oil purchases and Trump’s trade pressure back at the centre of India’s political debate.