Majuli (Assam) [India], August 27 (ANI): As the US administration implemented 50 per cent tariffs on exports from India, Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that 'hugging a leader will not solve all the problems'.

Gogoi made the remarks while inaugurating a passenger rest shed at Dhapakgaon Tiniali in Dakhin Kamalabari Panchayat, Majuli, using MP funds.

Speaking to ANI, Gogoi said, 'The 50 per cent tariff that will be implemented in India will most affect those industries, which provide the highest employment opportunities in our country. It is unfortunate that after President Trump's administration came into power, our Ministry of External Affairs failed to realise that it should have started engaging more closely with their government and administration.'

'Instead of engaging, an attitude of arrogance has developed in our Ministry of External Affairs, which has led to the breakdown of the earlier mutual understanding between the governments of India and the United States,' he added.

The Congress leader said the country was witnessing a weakening of its foreign policy.

'I hope we can strongly present India's case, and the Ministry of External Affairs must not assume that making some clever statements in one or two seminars constitutes foreign policy. Likewise, Prime Minister Modi should not think that hugging a leader will solve all problems. At present, we are witnessing how weaknesses have crept into our foreign policy, which is why the US government has not imposed such tariffs on China, but has imposed them on the Indian government and its industries,' Gogoi said.

On the Vice Presidential election, he said, 'We are very happy that the people of India are accepting the INDI alliance's candidature of Justice Reddy. He is already creating an impact, and we wish him all the best.'

Earlier, Gogoi raised questions to the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led state government and sought to know why, despite the BJP government being in power for nearly a decade, there were infiltrators entering the state.

'They have been in power for 10 years, and with border security under their watch, if infiltrators are still coming, then who is responsible?' Gogoi said.

The Congress leader stated that his party's stance was clear - no Bangladeshi should be illegally residing in the state. (ANI)