Rahul Gandhi Slams Modi After Market Crash, Says Trump Exposed Economic Illusion

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi following a sharp fall in Indian stock markets, linking the decline to U.S. President Donald Trump's global tariff war. Gandhi said that Trump had "shattered the illusion," referring to the Indian economy's perceived resilience, and accused the Prime Minister of being absent during a time of crisis.

In a post on X, Gandhi remarked, "Trump has blown the lid off the illusion. Reality is biting back. PM Modi is nowhere to be seen." He added that India must now confront the truth and transition toward a strong, production-driven economy that benefits all citizens.

The comments came after Indian equity markets suffered a massive crash on Monday, mirroring turmoil in global markets. The BSE Sensex plunged 2,226.79 points, or nearly 3 per cent, closing at 73,137.90. During intraday trading, the index fell by over 3,900 points, hitting a low of 71,425.01. The market collapse followed Trump's announcement of new tariffs targeting China and reciprocal levies on other nations, including India.

Gandhi further commented on the issue during an interaction in Patna, reiterating that Trump's protectionist moves triggered the market crash. He also pointed out that despite the volatility, only a small fraction of Indians-less than 1 per cent-have investments in the stock market, meaning the majority are unaffected directly by gains or losses.

"Massive wealth is generated in the stock market, but common people don't benefit from it," he said, stressing the need for economic models that include broader sections of society.