*

Ruling party, opposition unite to condemn Trump threat

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Foreign ministry accuses US, EU of double standard over

Russian

trade

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Market, Indian rupee fall as trade rift deepens

(Recasts, adds planned visits by Indian officials, market

reaction and details in paragraphs 10, 14, 22)

By Shivam Patel and Aftab Ahmed

NEW DELHI, Aug 5 (Reuters) - India's ruling party and

main opposition condemned on Tuesday a threat by U.S. President

Donald Trump to raise tariffs on goods from India over its

Russian oil purchases, in a show of political unity as a trade

rift deepens with Washington.

Trump had already in July announced 25% tariffs on Indian

imports, and U.S. officials have cited a range of geopolitical

issues standing in the way of a U.S.-India trade accord.

Manish Tewari, a member of parliament and leader of the

opposition Congress, said Trump's "disparaging remarks hurt the

dignity and self-respect of Indians".

"The time has come to call out this constant bullying and

hectoring," he added.

BJP Vice President Baijayant Jay Panda quoted Henry

Kissinger - the most powerful U.S. diplomat of the Cold War era

- in a post on X: "To be an enemy of America can be dangerous,

but to be a friend is fatal."

India's Foreign Ministry said the country was being unfairly

singled out over its purchases of Russian oil, and highlighted

continued trade between Moscow and both the United States and

the European Union, despite the war in Ukraine.

"It is revealing that the very nations criticising India are

themselves indulging in trade with Russia," it said in a

statement issued late on Monday.

"It is unjustified to single out India," the ministry said.

It said the EU conducted 67.5 billion euros ($78.02 billion)

in trade with Russia in 2024, including record imports of

liquefied natural gas (LNG) reaching 16.5 million metric tons.

The United States, the statement said, continues to import

Russian uranium hexafluoride for use in its nuclear power

industry, palladium, fertilisers and chemicals. It did not give

a source for the export information.

The U.S. embassy and the EU's delegation in New Delhi did

not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Both the United States and EU have sharply scaled back their

trade ties with Russia since it launched a full-scale invasion

of Ukraine in February 2022.

In 2021, Russia was the EU's fifth-largest trading partner,

with goods exchange worth 258 billion euros, according to the EU

executive European Commission.

SUDDEN RIFT

India is the biggest buyer of seaborne crude from Russia,

importing about 1.75 million barrels per day of Russian oil from

January to June this year, up 1% from a year ago, according to

data provided to Reuters by trade sources.

It has faced pressure from the West to distance itself from

Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine. New Delhi has resisted,

citing its longstanding ties with Russia and economic needs.

India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is likely to

travel to Russia this week on a scheduled visit, two government

sources said. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar is expected to visit

in the coming weeks.

The sudden rift between India and the U.S. has been

deepening since July 31, when Trump announced the 25% tariff on

goods being shipped to the U.S. and for the first time

threatened unspecified penalties for buying Russian oil.

Trump has said that from Friday he will impose new sanctions

on Russia as well as on countries that buy its energy exports,

unless Moscow takes steps to end the war with Ukraine.

The trade tensions have caused concern about the potential

impact on India's economy.

The equity benchmark BSE Sensex .BSESN closed down 0.38%,

while the rupee dropped 0.17% versus the dollar.