India Rejects Peter Navarro’s ‘Brahmins Profiting’ Remark as Misleading

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday firmly rejected comments made by Peter Navarro, former trade advisor to US President Donald Trump, who alleged that “Brahmins are profiting from Russian crude at the expense of Indians.”

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called Navarro’s statement “inaccurate and misleading,” stressing that India’s oil trade decisions are based on economic and strategic interests, not on communal grounds.

The Remark that Sparked Controversy

In an interview with Fox News, Navarro claimed India was “indirectly funding Russia’s war in Ukraine” through discounted crude imports and accused Brahmins of profiteering. He also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ties with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, suggesting that India was distancing itself from the West.

His remarks immediately triggered backlash across the Indian political spectrum.

Political Reactions in India

Congress leader Pawan Khera dismissed Navarro’s “Brahmin” comment as a “baseless justification for US tariffs on India.”

BJP MP Dinesh Sharma called the statement “factually wrong, culturally insensitive, and irrelevant to India’s economic policies.”

Both ruling and opposition parties emphasized that India’s crude imports are driven by national interest and affordability, not religious or social factors.

Trump’s Parallel Criticism

Adding fuel to tensions, Donald Trump shared a photo of PM Modi with Putin and Xi Jinping at the recent SCO summit in China, claiming:

“Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!”

This comes amid US–India strains over Trump’s decision to impose 50% tariffs on Indian exports, which an appeals court has already ruled unlawful.

Why It Matters

Navarro’s remarks highlight the growing friction in India-US ties under Trump’s leadership, where issues of trade, energy, and geopolitics are colliding. Indian analysts warn that such culturally charged accusations could strain relations further at a time when global partnerships are shifting rapidly.