Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said India did not react to steep 50 per cent tariff imposed by the US on Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil as India has a broad minded approach.
On his two-day visit to Morocco, first ever by an Indian defence minister there, Rajnath Singh said, “We didn’t react... those who are broad-minded and big-hearted, do not react on anything immediately,” while interacting with the Indian community there on Sunday.
The US recently imposed tariffs exceeding 50 per cent on India for purchasing Russian oil, a move the Government has described as “unfair and unreasonable.” The tariffs, which aim to make Indian exports less competitive, have drawn criticism from Indian leaders who see them as an attempt to curtail India’s economic rise.
In fact, Rajnath Singh was among the first ministers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet to publicly criticise Trump’s tariffs, saying, “No one can stop India from becoming a superpower.” Taking a veiled dig at US President Donald Trump, he added that the “sabka boss” is unable to digest India’s economic rise.
At an event in Madhya Pradesh last month, Rajnath Singh said, “Some people are unable to accept India’s progress. They are not taking it well... efforts are now being made to make Made-in-India products more expensive when exported to other countries,” highlighting concerns over protectionist measures targeting Indian manufacturing.
Describing the tariffs as an attempt to make other countries shun Indian goods, the defence minister had maintained a confident tone: “But the pace at which India is progressing, I can assure you, no global power can stop us from becoming a superpower,” he asserted.
As regards the ongoing Morocco visit, Rajnath Singh is scheduled inaugurate the Tata Advanced Systems’ new manufacturing facility for the Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8x8 at Berrechid, the first-ever Indian defence manufacturing plant in Africa.
He termed the new facility in Morocco as an important milestone that reflects the growing global footprint of India’s defence industry.
Addressing the Indian community, he said Indian armed forces were given complete freedom to appropriately respond to the cowardly terror attack on innocent civilians in Pahalgam.
Rajnath Singh also said India’s actions in response to the attack were “measured and non-escalatory.”
“We took action not based on religion but on deeds (Humne dharm dekh kar nahi, karm dekh kar maara hai),” Rajnath Singh said, quoting the Ramcharitmanas to describe the nation’s firm yet restrained approach, it noted.
Rajnath Singh also highlighted the progress achieved by India in the last decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Despite geopolitical challenges, India has emerged as the fastest-growing major economy, and is poised to enter the top three soon, he said.
The defence minister highlighted India’s digital transformation, rapid strides in the knowledge economy, and the surge in startups from 18 unicorns a decade ago to 118 today.
He underlined the “remarkable growth” of India’s defence industry, which has achieved production worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore and defence exports exceeding Rs 23,000 crore to more than 100 countries. The defence minister lauded the hard work, dedication, and honesty of the Indian community.
Rajnath will hold a bilateral meeting with his Moroccan counterpart Abdeltif Loudiyi. Following the talks, both sides are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of defence.
The MoU will provide for an institutional framework to expand and deepen bilateral defence engagement, including exchanges, training, and industrial linkages, officials said.
Ties between India and Morocco have gained momentum since King Mohammed VI met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 in India.