Nirmala Sitharaman Slams Indians Defending Trump Aide Navarro’s ‘Brahmins Profiteering’ Remarks

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman criticised Indians who defended US trade adviser Peter Navarro’s controversial remarks on “Brahmins", calling them “friends of imperialists,” reported Hindustan Times.

Navarro, who served as Donald Trump’s trade advisor, had claimed that “Brahmins” were benefiting from India’s purchase of Russian oil during the Ukraine war.

In a a Fox News interview, Navarro said, “Look (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi is a great leader... So I would just simply say, the Indian people, please understand what's going on here. You got Brahmins profiteering at the expense of the Indian people. We need that to stop".

However, some in India pointed out that Trump’s tariff czar was probably borrowing from the American term ‘Boston Brahmins’, meaning old money elites.

Sitharaman dismissed such explanations in an interview with CNBC TV18.

“Exactly the same divide and rule principle that the British used, which the imperialists used here. And today, you have the friends of the imperialists telling us, ‘you know the expression Boston Brahmins is this and not that.’ Who damn cares? I’m sorry. Who damn cares? I want Indians to think for ourselves,” she said.

The minister urged Indians not to validate Navarro’s language.

“I want those Indians who are now defending that language to get up and say, ‘We are free from you all now for over 75-80 years. We’ll mind our business, we’ll take care of ourselves. Refrain from using these words,’” she added.

She described the explanations emerging from India as “outrageous.”

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Also Read: India Rejects Trump Aide Peter Navarro’s Remarks After His Controversial 'Modi’s War' And ‘Brahmins Profiteering’ Claims