Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday launched a veiled attack on former US President Donald Trump, criticizing rising tariffs on Indian exports amid growing trade tensions between India and the United States. Speaking at an event in Madhya Pradesh, Singh said that certain global powers are uncomfortable with India’s rapid economic rise and are trying to hinder its progress.

“Some people are jealous of India’s development and think, ‘sab ke boss to hum hain’ (we are the boss of all). They cannot digest how fast India is moving ahead,” Singh said, indirectly referencing the recent U.S. decision to impose an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods. He argued that these tactics are intended to make Indian-made products less competitive in the global market.

“When goods made by Indian hands become more expensive than foreign products, people across the world will stop buying them,” he warned, emphasizing how unfair trade practices could impact India’s manufacturing sector.

India has strongly condemned the U.S. tariff hike, calling it “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable,” and has vowed to take steps to protect its national interests.

Singh, however, maintained that India’s momentum is unstoppable. “With the pace at which India is progressing, I can say with full confidence that no power in the world can stop it from becoming a vishwa shakti (global force),” he declared.

Highlighting the strides made in defence manufacturing under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, Singh noted a significant shift in India’s capabilities. “Earlier, we used to depend on other countries for aircraft, weapons, and defence systems. But today, many of these are being made in India, by Indians, for our needs—and we are exporting them as well,” he said.

His remarks underscore the government’s emphasis on self-reliance in defence and economic resilience amid evolving geopolitical dynamics and global trade frictions.