Rahul Gandhi Slams PM Modi Over Trump’s Claim on Russian Oil Deal

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after former US President Donald Trump claimed that Modi assured him India would stop importing crude oil from Russia. Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of "bowing to foreign pressure" and allowing Trump to dictate India's energy policy.

Speaking at the White House, Trump said he had raised concerns with Modi about India's continued purchases of Russian oil - which Washington argues indirectly fund Moscow's war in Ukraine. According to Trump, Modi promised to "end the imports soon," calling it a gradual process already underway.

The remarks sparked a storm back home, with Gandhi accusing the Prime Minister of lacking the courage to stand up for India's interests.

"Modi ji seems frightened of Trump. The Prime Minister appears to take orders instead of making decisions. India's foreign policy should be guided by national interest, not Trump's approval," Gandhi said on X (formerly Twitter).

Congress Accuses Modi of "Outsourcing Decisions" to the US

Joining the attack, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Modi had effectively outsourced India's strategic choices to Washington.

"Now President Trump says Mr. Modi assured him India won't import oil from Russia. Mr. Modi appears to have outsourced key decisions to America. The 56-inch chest has shrunk and shrivelled," Ramesh said in a post.

He also pointed to other recent instances - including Trump's comments on Operation Sindoor and the Gaza ceasefire deal - claiming that Modi "remained silent" while US leaders spoke on India's behalf.

Government Maintains Silence

The Indian government has not confirmed or denied Trump's claims. New Delhi has repeatedly defended its energy policy, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar insisting that India's oil imports are driven purely by "national interest."

"We make decisions that are in national interest," Jaishankar said earlier this year, calling Western criticism of Russian oil purchases "hypocritical."

Despite the political uproar, officials say India continues to import Russian crude due to favourable pricing and supply stability - key factors amid global market volatility.

Trade Frictions and Diplomatic Tensions

Trump's latest comments come against the backdrop of strained trade ties between Washington and New Delhi. During his presidency, he imposed an additional 25% import duty on Indian goods, raising the total tariff to 50%, and linked tariff relief to India's alignment with US policies on energy and defence.

Still, Trump described Modi as "a friend of mine" and praised India as "a reliable partner" in balancing China's regional influence.

Opposition's Larger Narrative

For the Congress, Trump's remarks have become another opportunity to question Modi's foreign policy assertiveness. Gandhi has repeatedly accused the BJP government of "submitting to US pressure" while projecting muscular nationalism at home.