New Delhi: The Congress party has once again targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his continued silence following renewed remarks by US President Donald Trump, who claimed that India has promised to halt crude oil imports from Russia.
Speaking on Saturday, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh referred to Trump’s latest comments, where the former U.S. President reiterated that India, under Modi’s leadership, had assured him that it would stop buying Russian oil.
This marks the second time in recent weeks that Trump has made such a claim. In an earlier statement, he said that his “friend” Narendra Modi had personally committed to reducing India’s energy ties with Moscow.
Ramesh took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to call out what he described as the Prime Minister’s “strategic silence” on Trump’s assertions.
“President Trump has again said that his close friend assured him India would reduce its oil imports from Russia. But that friend remains silent—not only now, but also when Trump said he stopped Operation Sindoor,” Ramesh posted.
While Operation Sindoor remains unverified and controversial, Trump’s repeated reference to India’s oil imports has triggered political ripples at home.
The Congress leader also raised concerns about India’s growing trade imbalance with China, noting that the trade deficit for the April–September 2025 period had widened to $54.4 billion, compared to $49.6 billion during the same period last year.
“While we hear tall claims about ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India), the ground reality tells a different story,” Ramesh added.
Government Maintains Focus on Energy Security
In response to Trump’s earlier remarks, the Ministry of External Affairs had stated that India remains committed to securing affordable energy through diverse sources. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had emphasized that protecting Indian consumers amid global volatility remains a key concern.
“India continues to diversify its energy sources in line with national interests and market dynamics,” Jaiswal had said.
However, the government has so far not issued any statement addressing Trump’s latest claim, which Congress alleges could have significant diplomatic and economic implications.
India has significantly increased its oil imports from Russia over the past two years, particularly after global sanctions on Moscow created favorable purchase conditions for Indian refiners. The country has defended its position, citing national interest and consumer affordability.
Opposition Raises Transparency Concerns
With Donald Trump’s remarks gaining traction internationally, the Congress party has pressed the Modi government to clarify its stance. Opposition leaders argue that foreign policy and major economic decisions must be transparent and rooted in parliamentary accountability, not personal assurances given in bilateral meetings or private conversations.
As the political heat builds ahead of key state elections, foreign policy and trade matters are increasingly becoming part of the domestic political narrative — with Trump’s comments adding fuel to the fire.
