Hyderabad, in India’s opposition-ruled Telangana state, has renamed a major road after US President Donald Trump, prompting criticism from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The newly named “Donald Trump Avenue,” unveiled recently, runs near the US consulate and close to offices of major American technology companies including Microsoft, Google and Amazon. BJP leaders have questioned the decision, calling it “hypocrisy” and asking why India’s government in Telangana is honoring Trump while broader India-US relations have become contentious.
The move comes as US-India ties are described as deteriorating during Trump’s second term, with Washington imposing high tariffs on Indian goods and also responding to India’s purchases of Russian oil. Sources also note that the US has taken a closer approach involving India’s arch-rival, Pakistan. Opposition Congress figures have accused Modi of being “compromised” for not challenging Trump on these issues. Other parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist), have also criticized the road naming and called for its withdrawal. Trump and Modi met on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France and agreed to push forward a trade deal currently under negotiation.
