India’s strategic autonomy under dire threat: Congress slams govt on US’ Russian oil waiver
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said India’s current foreign policy was the result of “exploitation of a compromised individual”. His attack on Modi came after the US announced a temporary waiver of purchases of Russian oil.
Amid escalating conflicts with Iran, the United States announced that it will grant a 30-day temporary exemption to oil purchases from Russia.
“President (Donald) Trump’s energy agenda has resulted in oil and gas production reaching the highest levels ever recorded. To ensure oil continues to flow to the global market, the Treasury Department is granting a temporary 30-day exemption to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement on Thursday. he said.
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“What we are witnessing today is not politics. It is the result of exploitation of a compromised individual,” the opposition leader in the Lok Sabha said.
He also shared his speech during a debate on the budget in the Lok Sabha on February 11 that India’s energy security was being compromised. Gandhi had said, “The USA will tell us who we can buy oil from, Russia or Iran. The USA will decide. But our prime minister will not decide.” Congress also shared Gandhi’s speech on X.
“We are here to see the evidence and the compromised Prime Minister’s silence is shameful,” the party said.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that India’s strategic autonomy and national sovereignty were under serious threat “due to Prime Minister Modi being blackmailed over the Epstein Files and Adani Case”.
“The US statement of ‘allowing’ and ‘allowing’ us to buy Russian oil, the ’30-day exemption’ clearly shows that the Modi government is constantly ceding diplomatic space.
“This is the kind of language used for sanctioned states and not for India, which is a responsible and equal partner in the global order,” he said in a lengthy post about X.
“Now the US is giving ’30-day temporary exemption’ to India and ‘allowing’ Indian refineries to buy Russian oil. From trade to oil, from data to India’s long-term relations with friendly countries, Modi ji is GIVING everything,” Kharge said.
He said India has a proud history of self-determination and that destiny has remained unblemished so far.
“From Jawaharlal Nehru to Indira Gandhi to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, no Prime Minister has ever bowed to pressure from any country except Modi ji and turned India into a virtual vassal state,” he said.
“‘Main Desh Nahi Jhukne Doonga’ was just a slogan to win elections. 140 crore Indians were betrayed. Modi ji surrendered them all,” Kharge alleged.
In a Hindi rhyming post on channel X, Congress communications secretary Jairam Ramesh said: “Trump ka naya khel, Dilli dost ko kaha, Putin se le sakte ho tel, kab tak chalega ye Ameriki blackmail (Trump’s new game; he told his friend in Delhi that you can buy oil from Russian President Vladimir Putin; how long will this American blackmail continue)?”
Addressing a press conference here, Congress’ media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said Gandhi’s words had once again proven prophetic that the US would decide “from whom we should buy oil”.
Referring to the USA’s announcement of a one-month exemption allowing India to import Russian oil, Khera said, “Will the USA give us a license to import oil?” he asked.
He pointed out that the Indo-US trade deal has not been signed yet and restrictions are still imposed on New Delhi.
Khera said that after the US Supreme Court struck down the Trump tariffs, Gandhi asked Modi to keep the deal on hold, but he did not do so.
“Prime Minister Modi does not have the courage to withdraw from the trade agreement,” the Congress leader said.
He said people still remember the days when Indira Gandhi was prime minister and “now, with a compromised prime minister”, the country’s reputation has fallen.
Khera said, “The Prime Minister has completely surrendered to the Americans today. What are you afraid of?… Maybe the Epstein files are making you do what America wants.”
“The people of India cannot expect justice from a compromised cabinet with a compromised prime minister who compromises the interests of the country,” he claimed.
Trump had imposed a 25 percent punitive tariff on India for buying Russian oil; The US administration had claimed that Delhi’s purchases helped fuel Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Last month, the United States and India announced they were preparing a framework for an interim agreement on trade, and Trump issued an executive order removing 25 percent tariffs on New Delhi, taking into account New Delhi’s commitment to halt energy imports from Moscow and increase purchases of American energy products.
