Shashi Tharoor refused to comment on Rahul Gandhi's support to Trump's 'dead economy' remark, says 'He has his reasons'

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, while reacting to party leader Rahul Gandhi's comments supporting US President Donald Trump's 'dead economy' remark on India, said on Saturday that the Opposition Leader in Lok Sabha had his reasons for supporting the statement.

"I don't want to comment on what my party leader has said. He has his reasons for saying so," Tharoor told reporters.

Speaking about India-US relations, Tharoor said Washington is important to New Delhi as a strategic and economic partner as it exports around USD 90 billion worth of goods to America.

"We are exporting around USD 90 billion worth of goods to America. We can't be in a position to lose that or have it diminish significantly... We must wish our negotiators strength to get a fair deal for India," he said.

Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday backed Trump's scathing remarks on the Indian economy, calling it a "dead economy" and slamming the Narendra Modi-led government for its alleged mismanagement.

“Yes, he is right, everybody knows this except the Prime Minister and the



Finance Minister. Everybody knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. I am glad that President Trump has stated a fact. The entire world knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. The BJP has finished the economy to help Adani,” he said.

Training his guns on PM Modi, he said, "PM Modi works only for one person: Adani. This (India-US trade) deal will take place, and PM Modi will do exactly what Trump says. The main issue sitting in front of India today is that the government has destroyed our economy, defence and foreign policy. They are running this country into the ground."

A significant rift has recently emerged between Shashi Tharoor and the Congress party, particularly over the senior leader’s public support for Operation Sindoor, which stands in contrast to the party’s official position.

Tharoor openly praised the military action, repeatedly asserting that the nation comes before the party. The government’s decision to appoint him as the head of the Operation Sindoor delegation to the US - despite Congress not nominating him - has further deepened the divide.