In a sharp contrast to his party’s official line, Congress MP Manish Tewari has once again chosen to stand with the nation rather than toe the party narrative. In the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 25% tariff on Indian imports, Tewari described the move not as an economic setback, but as a symbolic recognition of India’s growing strategic autonomy. “Trump’s threat has given more legitimacy to Indian strategic exceptionalism and will hardly affect New Delhi’s strategic autonomy,” he remarked. While Congress continues to criticize the Modi government on every international issue, Tewari’s clear stance indicates a shift within the party ranks — a growing discomfort among nationalistic leaders over the Congress’s increasingly adversarial politics, even on matters of national interest
Strategic Autonomy: India’s Legacy from Nehru to Modi
In a detailed post on X, Manish Tewari laid out a nuanced timeline of India’s foreign policy, beginning with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s doctrine of non-alignment during the Cold War. He highlighted how this legacy has evolved into today’s policy of multi-alignment and strategic self-reliance, now formalized as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat. According to Tewari, India’s ability to maintain sovereign decision-making — whether in defense, trade, or energy — has been a hallmark of its diplomacy since 1947. “The policy of non-alignment…now called multi-alignment and self-reliance…are strategic continuums that provide the Indian state with flexibility to engage with the world on its own terms,” he explained.
Tewari’s emphasis was not just theoretical. By interpreting Trump’s tariff announcement through the lens of India’s rising global stature and resilience, he turned what Congress saw as a diplomatic failure into a testimony of India’s uncompromising autonomy. He also warned that such trade moves from the U.S. could damage the “larger fabric” of the India-US partnership, but insisted that they won’t diminish India’s sovereign strength.
Congress Isolates Leaders Who Back National Interest
This is not the first time Manish Tewari has shown alignment with the national interest over partisan politics. He was recently denied a chance to speak during the Operation Sindoor debate in the Lok Sabha — a moment when even moderate Congress voices were muzzled. Sources within the party suggest his growing support for the Modi government’s foreign and security policies has irked the Congress high command. Tewari’s recent remarks on the Trump tariffs further cement this divide.
The Congress, instead of recognizing national security as a bipartisan issue, appears to be sidelining its own experienced leaders who attempt to maintain a balanced, patriotic approach. When a senior MP like Tewari — a known advocate for national defense — is gagged for not parroting the party line, it raises questions about the internal democracy of the Congress party and its priorities. Rather than appreciating voices of reason and unity, the party seems more focused on scoring political points, even if it means opposing India’s strategic advancements on the world stage.
NDA Government Finds Unlikely Support in Opposition Ranks
While Congress MPs like Jairam Ramesh publicly mocked the Modi government for Trump’s tariff announcement, Manish Tewari’s reaction was strikingly different. Describing the US President’s move as a “tribute to Indian strategic exceptionalism,” Tewari not only defended the government’s posture but also highlighted how India’s long-term autonomy cannot be shaken by such tactical pressures.
This rare support from an opposition MP underscores the fact that even within the Congress, some leaders recognize the statesmanship behind India’s foreign policy. It is also a moment of reflection for the Congress party, whose knee-jerk anti-Modi rhetoric seems increasingly out of touch with ground realities and India’s evolving global position. While the NDA government has focused on ensuring India’s voice is assertive and independent — be it with the US, Russia, or the Middle East — the Congress continues to echo a politically desperate narrative.
Congress Must Choose Between Petty Politics and National Interest
Manish Tewari’s recent stand is more than just a statement it’s a wake-up call for the Congress party. At a time when India is cementing its role as a global power, bipartisan support should be the norm, not the exception. Yet, the Congress finds itself punishing its own members for showing maturity, statesmanship, and national pride.
If the Congress leadership continues to treat every international development as an opportunity to attack the Modi government, regardless of its merit, it will lose not just electoral ground but also its identity as a party once trusted with safeguarding India’s sovereignty. Tewari’s voice proves that not all in the Congress have lost sight of the bigger picture. The real question now is — will the party listen, or continue its self-destructive path of opposing the nation just to oppose the government?
