Indian tech hub names road for Trump, drawing criticism from Modi's BJP

A key road named after United States ‌President Donald Trump in India's opposition-ruled tech hub of Hyderabad has drawn criticism from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party, which dismissed the move as "hypocrisy".

US-India ties have deteriorated ​during Trump's second term, with Washington imposing high tariffs on Indian ​goods, punishing New Delhi for purchasing Russian oil, and engaging closely ⁠with India's arch-rival Pakistan.

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The road in the capital of the southern state ​of Telangana, ruled by the main opposition Congress party, adjoins the US consulate ​and is near the offices of major American tech companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.

The road received its new name, Donald Trump Avenue, on Tuesday, at a time ​when Congress has been accusing Modi of being "compromised" by not taking on ​Trump on issues from the tariffs to US attacks on Indian-crewed tankers during the Iran war.

"Rahul Gandhi ‌says ⁠President Trump [is] hurting Indian interests," Shehzad Poonawalla, a spokesperson of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said on X on Wednesday, referring to the top Congress leader.

"Then why is his government in Telangana giving the ultimate tribute to him ​by renaming a road ​after him?"

The move ⁠drew criticism from other political parties when unveiled this month, with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) calling it "outrageous" and demanding ​its withdrawal.

Congress says the renaming gesture demonstrates Hyderabad's "growing role" ​in the ⁠partnership of the two countries.

Trump has not visited Hyderabad during his two terms in office, although predecessors Bill Clinton and George W Bush both did.

Trump and ⁠Modi ​met on the sidelines of last week's G7 ​summit in France and agreed to push forward a trade deal they have been negotiating.