Overview

• In interviews published Tuesday, Shashi Tharoor criticized White House adviser Peter Navarro for remarks labeling India the “maharaja of tariffs,” a “laundromat of Russia,” and invoking caste.
• He argued that Donald Trump’s tariff strategy treats duties as “magic instruments” and has provoked a strong public reaction in India.
• The United States has imposed a 25% tariff on Indian imports plus an additional 25% penalty linked to purchases of Russian crude, taking total duties to about 50%.
• Reports noted Navarro also alleged “Brahmins are profiteering at the expense of the Indian people,” and that he mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a social media post.
• Tharoor additionally criticized a sudden $100,000 increase in H‑1B visa fees, describing the move as driven by U.S. domestic politics.