Bhagwa Party holds ‘Terhvi’ ritual for Trump over tariff hike

The Bhopal unit of the Bharatiya Garh Varta Party on Saturday staged an unusual protest against US President Donald Trump, holding a ‘Terhvi’ (thirteenth-day death ritual) in response to Washington’s recent tariff hike on Indian exports. The event was organised at Board Office Square as a symbolic continuation of the ‘funeral’ the party conducted for Trump on September 1, 2025.At the protest site, Trump’s effigy was draped with a garland of shoes while participants chanted slogans denouncing the steep tariff. Food was distributed among attendees as part of the traditional ceremony.

Party president Shivakant Shukla sharply criticised the 50% tariff on Indian goods, describing it as the outcome of Trump’s “flawed mentality and distorted thinking.” He said such measures weaken long-standing India–US friendship and strain economic relations between the two nations.Explaining the symbolism, Shukla noted that the ‘funeral’ marked the beginning of the protest campaign earlier this month, while the thirteenth-day ritual was held to “bring Trump to better sense.” He expressed hope that the campaign would put pressure on Washington to reverse the tariff decision.

The organisers added that their demonstrations also aim to encourage Indians to rely more on indigenous products and reduce dependence on US markets. They warned that unless the US reconsiders its tariff stance, such symbolic protests would continue in the future.
The tariff, which took effect on August 27, is expected to significantly hit India’s outbound trade. According to estimates by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), exports worth nearly Rs5.4 lakh crore could be affected. Sectors including garments, gems and jewellery, furniture, and seafood face the steepest impact, with demand in the US market projected to decline by as much as 70%.Analysts urge that competitors such as China, Vietnam, and Mexico—whose exports face lower tariffs—stand to benefit from the policy shift, potentially eroding India’s market share and earnings in the world’s largest consumer economy.