New Delhi [India], April 4 (ANI): Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday said that the Opposition's protest against the Centre on the issue of US tariffs was about demanding clarity from the government regarding its stand on the reciprocal tariff.

Speaking to ANI, Shashi Tharoor said, 'The Congress party is demanding clarity from the government on their stand on this issue because many reports are stating that the US is objecting to various tariffs. For example, complaining about the agricultural subsidies given in the form of MSPs and so on. But India knows that our farmers are already living in desperate conditions and that if their products are swamped by agricultural imports, then it could have some consequences.'

'What the Congress party leadership was trying to accomplish today was to demand of the government to come and make a clarificatory statement in the Lok Sabha, because Parliament is the platform where the nation gets to hear from the government as to what they are planning to do. So some clarity as to the government's stand is what the party was asking for,' he added.

Opposition MPs, including those of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), DMK, etc., earlier staged a protest near the Makar Dwar on Parliament premises against the Centre after the US President Donald Trump administration imposed a 26 percent reciprocal tariff on India.

Congress MP and Lok Sabha Deputy Leader of Opposition Gaurav Gogoi also attacked the BJP-led Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the 26 per cent reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US, stating that whenever the Indian economy gets into trouble, the PM starts his 'maun vrat.'

The Congress MP stated that these tariffs would negatively impact the Indian economy and demanded an explanation from the government.

He further accused the BJP-led Centre of 'polarisation politics' during an economic crisis.

Earlier today, Congress MP Manish Tewari gave a notice to move an adjournment motion to discuss the 'deteriorating' diplomatic relations of India with the United States in light of recent incidents of visa revocations affecting Indian students and the imposition of a 26 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian goods.

On Thursday, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said that the United States' decision to impose reciprocal tariffs will 'completely devastate our economy,' with the auto industry, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture among sectors expected to bear the brunt.

He asked the government what it was doing about this tariff. 'Our ally has suddenly decided to impose a 26 per cent tariff, which is going to devastate our economy completely- our auto industry, pharmaceutical industry, and agriculture are all on the line,' Rahul Gandhi said in Lok Sabha.

US President Donald Trump announced new import tariffs on Wednesday, outlining the rates to be imposed on countries around the world, with India facing a 26 per cent tariff. (ANI)