Days before US President Donald Trump arrives in India, Congress on Wednesday took exception to POTUS' remarks that India hadn't treated his country "very well" on the trade front, thereby indicating that a "very big" bilateral deal with New Delhi may not be on the cards just as yet.
Congress said that Trump's remarks were an insult and affront to the country's dignity and the government should respond accordingly.
Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said the issue is serious as it seeks to undermine the progress made in the last many years as regards Indo-US ties.
He also said that the tone and tenor of Trump's visit seem to be "transactional and not strategic".
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"The president of the United States, on the eve of his visit for the first time to India, has made certain remarks. I think it is an insult and affront to the dignity of the country and the Ministry of External Affairs should respond to it," he told reporters.
On Tuesday, when Trump was asked if expects a trade deal with India, he said, "Well, we can have a trade deal with India, but I'm really saving the big deal for later on."
"We're not treated very well by India," the US president complained.
Earlier, Trump, while aggressively pursuing his "America First" policy, has described India as a "tariff king" for imposing "tremendously high" tariffs on American products.
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The US and India could sign a "trade package" during Trump's maiden visit, according to media reports.
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the point-person for trade negotiations with India, may not accompany Trump to India, sources said. However, officials have not ruled it out altogether.
