New Delhi :
The Indian National Congress today accused the government led by Narendra Modi of compromising India’s foreign policy after the United States announced a temporary 30-day waiver allowing Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the development indicated that India’s foreign policy decisions were increasingly being influenced by external pressures.
In a post on social media, he argued that India’s foreign policy should reflect the will of its people and remain rooted in national interests.
Rahul also shared a video of his speech delivered in the Lok Sabha during the Union Budget debate, where he warned that global powers might begin influencing India’s energy purchases. He had said the US could decide whether India buys oil from countries like Russia or Iran.
The criticism followed an announcement by Scott Bessent, US Treasury Secretary, who said the waiver was a short-term measure meant to allow transactions for oil shipments already stranded at sea.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the wording of the US statement raised concerns about India’s strategic autonomy, while party spokesperson Pawan Khera questioned whether India now needed permission from Washington to import oil.
