(Commonwealth_India) Congress leader Shashi Tharoor presented a firm and pointed reply to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who recently recommended that India would quickly give in to American pressure, apologize, and make concessions over its trade with Russia. Lutnick, speaking to Bloomberg, went so far as to predict that within two months India would “say sorry” and return to the negotiating table with Donald Trump, warning that steep tariffs would ultimately force New Delhi’s hand.
Tharoor rejected these claims outright, stressing that India had no reason to apologize and had acted responsibly in its decisions. He emphasized that maturity and fairness guided India’s policies, and its sovereignty was not subject to negotiation. I don’t think we have anything to apologize for at all. India has conducted itself with a tremendous deal of maturity in all of this, he said, dismissing Lutnick’s suggestion.
In his remarks, Lutnick had cautioned that India could not afford to stand against Washington for long. He outlined three demands if India wanted to avoid harsh tariffs—stop buying Russian oil, open domestic markets to US access, and step away from the BRICS grouping. His message was uncompromising: either fall in line with America’s economic priorities or face punishing duties of up to 50 per cent on exports. He drove the point home by reminding his audience of America’s economic clout, describing the US as the “consumer of the world” with a $30 trillion economy, before declaring, “the customer is always right.”
Tharoor challenged the logic behind this position, calling it both inconsistent and unfair. He pointed out that it was the US itself that once encouraged India to purchase Russian oil as a way to help stabilize volatile global markets. To now criticize India for the same policy, he argued, was hypocritical. He also reminded us that other nations maintain far deeper economic ties with Moscow. China purchases more Russian oil and gas than we do. Compared to us, Turkey buys more Russian gas and oil. Europe doesn’t purchase oil and gas, but they buy other Russian items, so they’re putting more billions of dollars into Russia’s fund than we do, he said. Given this realism, he asked why India alone was being singled out.
For Tharoor, such pressure from Washington reflected an error in judgement, not an objective assessment of India’s role. It seems strange that we are alone, being singled out for supposedly funding the Russian war effort when others are doing far more than we are. So, I think there has been a certain fault in American procedure against India, which is not warranted or justified,” he said, adding that just as the United States makes its own sovereign decisions, India will continue to do the same.
Turning to the broader relationship between New Delhi and Washington, Tharoor noted that recent statements from US leaders sounded more conciliatory. Donald Trump, for instance, recently described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “great Prime Minister” and called current tensions no more than a “momentary hiccup” in what he still saw as a “very special” partnership. Modi responded warmly, underscoring the positive trajectory of bilateral ties, while External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated the strength of the “comprehensive global strategic partnership.”
While acknowledging this more positive tone, Tharoor urged India to remain cautious. “I would welcome this new tone with a spirit of caution,” he said, stressing that soft words could not erase the damage already done. He reminded them that the high tariffs imposed by the Trump administration had already hurt Indian businesses and exporters, and that the rhetoric accompanying those tariffs had left deep resentment. I don’t think we can just totally overlook either the 50 per cent tariffs or the abuses that have escorted them from both the President and his staff. Mr Trump has a fairly active nature, and what he has been saying has triggered some hurt and offence in our country. The 50 per cent tariffs have essentially had significance already, he said.
In his view, India must continue to value its partnership with the US, but never at the expense of its independence. Cooperation, he argued, should be built on equality and respect, not threats or one-sided demands. For Tharoor, the path forward lies in a careful balance—strengthening ties where possible while standing firm on the principle that India’s sovereignty and independent choices cannot be compromised.
