Modi, however, has begun to push back. He said on Thursday the country was ready to stand by its farmers at any cost, without referring to the tussle with the U.S. on opening up the agricultural and dairy sectors to lower Trump's tariffs.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday shared that he held a “very good and detailed conversation with my friend President Putin,” as President Trump has ramped up tariff threats this week against New Delhi for Russian oil purchases.

The Indian prime minister has said his country "is ready" to react to President Donald Trump's additional 25 percent levy on goods entering the U.S.