The Indian National Congress leader Rahul Ghandi has sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi following reports that India will cease purchasing Russian oil, accusing him of capitulating to American pressure.
The controversy emerged after US President Donald Trump, addressing the media in the Oval Office, stated that Mr Modi had given him assurances that India would stop buying oil from Russia. While White House officials later told Reuters that India had reduced its oil purchases from Russia by 50 percent, they provided no further details on a complete future cessation.
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led the attack, posting on social media that the Prime Minister was acting out of apprehension towards the US President. “Modi fears Trump,”” Mr Gandhi wrote, alleging that the Indian leader had allowed President Trump to unilaterally announce the policy shift.
He further claimed that, “despite repeated insults,” Mr Modi had sent congratulatory messages to the White House, cancelled his participation in a conference on Gaza, and had been unable to refute President Trump’s claims regarding a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
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The criticism was echoed by other senior party figures. Congress leader Supriya Shreenath labelled the Prime Minister ‘Narendra complete surrender’. Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary for Communications, Jairam Ramesh, also issued a severe condemnation of the Modi government’s decision to halt oil purchases from Russia.
