India, Aug. 7 -- Congress MP and former global diplomat Shashi Tharoor has said there seems to be hidden message in how US President Donald Trump has imposed massive tariffs on India as penalty for its purchases from Russia, but given China more leeway.

"China is purchasing almost double," he said on oil that India is buying from Russia, "and they have been given 90 days while India has been given just three weeks" before an additional tariff of 25% kicks in. The already-announced 25% kicked in on Thursday; it is set to go up to 50% later this month.

"We should impose the same rate if nothing changes in the next three weeks," the former union minister said, speaking in Hindi with reporters outside Parliament.

"They (US) only used the w...