Trump tariffs: Why India didn't react to 50% duty immediately? Rajnath Singh reveals

NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that India did not react immediately to the 50% tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump because the nation is "broad-minded and big-hearted."

"We didn't react...Those who are broad-minded and big-hearted do not react to anything immediately," Rajnath Singh said while interacting with the Indian community in Morocco.



The US has imposed a 50 per cent tariff, including 25 per cent as a penalty for buying Russian oil, on exports from India entering American markets.

Also read: India’s exports to US plunge - Not just goods hit by Trump’s 50% tariffs, even smartphones see ‘alarming’ dip; what’s happening?

The defence minister, who is in Morocco for a two-day official visit, also expressed confidence in India getting back control of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) without taking any aggressive steps, as the people in the region itself have been demanding freedom from the current administration.

"PoK will be ours on its own. Demands have started being made in PoK, you must have heard sloganeering," the minister said during his interaction with the Indian community in Morocco.

Singh added that he had repeated the same five years ago, while addressing an Indian Army program in Jammu and Kashmir.

"I was addressing the Indian Army at a program in Kashmir Valley five years ago, I had then said that we will not need to attack and capture PoK, it is anyway ours; PoK itself will say, 'Main bhi Bharat Hoon'. That day will come," the defence minister said.

The minister's remarks come after it was alleged that the Centre had "missed the chance" to capture PoK during Operation Sindoor on May 7.

Multiple leaders of various opposition parties criticised the Central government for agreeing to a 'ceasefire' despite India having the upper hand after Operation Sindoor downed multiple Pakistani jets, claiming that there was a chance to capture the Pakistani-occupied territory.

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