New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi today of being unable to push back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats due to an ongoing U.S. investigation into the Adani Group. Gandhi claimed Modi’s hands are effectively “tied” because of the probe .
In a post on X, Gandhi wrote: “India, please understand: The reason PM Modi cannot stand up to President Trump despite his repeated threats is the ongoing U.S. investigation into Adani. One threat is to expose the financial links between Modi, AA, and Russian oil deals. Modi’s hands are tied.”
India, please understand:
The reason PM Modi cannot stand up to President Trump despite his repeated threats is the ongoing U.S. investigation into Adani.
One threat is to expose the financial links between Modi, AA, and Russian oil deals.
Modi’s hands are tied.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 6, 2025
Gandhi made the remarks in response to Trump’s latest warnings of a steep increase in tariffs on Indian goods, citing India’s purchase of Russian oil amid geopolitical tensions. Trump’s threats come amid broader U.S. criticisms of India’s energy procurement from Russia, even as several Western nations maintain similar trade ties .
The Adani Group, led by billionaire Gautam Adani, is under investigation by U.S. authorities. A federal indictment unsealed in November 2024 alleges that Adani and associates paid approximately US $265 million in bribes to Indian officials between 2020 and 2024 to secure lucrative solar energy contracts. In addition, the case includes charges of securities fraud, wire fraud, and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . Indian authorities, including SEBI, have launched parallel inquiries following the high‑profile Hindenburg Research report in 2023 and related governance concerns .
Gandhi’s explicit linkage of Modi’s foreign diplomatic posture to the domestic corporate scrutiny on Adani marks a tactical escalation in political rhetoric. It suggests that political adversaries view the ongoing U.S. probe as a channel of leverage over the government .