The Congress on Tuesday criticized the government over US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that India has promised to stop importing oil from Russia.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioned the Centre’s stance, saying, “President Trump says he has spoken to his good friend Mr Modi and India has promised to stop these imports. The MEA says that it is unaware of such conversations(!) but President Trump has clearly brushed aside the MEA’s attempts at denial.”
He pointed out that Trump has raised the issue of India’s oil imports from Russia thrice in the past five days, and it is likely to continue as the US President prepares to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Budapest later in the week.
“The matter of India’s imports of oil from Russia has been raised by President Trump now thrice in the past five days. And no doubt he will keep increasing this tally as he prepares to meet President Putin in Budapest later in the week,” Ramesh said in a post on X.
The Ministry of External Affairs has since denied any conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump on the issue, saying that India’s energy sourcing is guided by national interests and the need to protect Indian consumers.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “I would again request all of you to look at the statement carefully. What we have had to say we have already said, and I would urge that you know you have a look at the statement, and you know all the issues, from as far as we are concerned, it is there for you to see how we approached the issue.”
The opposition demands transparency and an official stance from the government regarding its approach to balancing relations with the US and Russia.
Ramesh’s remarks underscore the growing scrutiny of India’s foreign policy decisions, particularly on energy ties with Russia.