‘Frightened of Trump’: Rahul Gandhi Slams PM Modi Over Claim India Will Halt Russian Oil Buys
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a pointed attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of appearing “frightened” of US President Donald Trump following the American leader’s assertion that Modi had promised to end India’s purchases of Russian crude oil. The remarks came amid escalating tensions in India-US relations over energy imports, with Trump claiming during a White House briefing that Modi had given him a firm assurance on the matter, hailing it as a significant diplomatic win.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said he had directly raised concerns with Modi about India’s imports of Russian oil, which Washington views as indirectly funding Russia’s war in Ukraine. “He (PM Narendra Modi) assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big step,” Trump stated, urging China to follow suit and describing Modi as “a friend of mine” and a key partner despite ongoing frictions in energy policy.
The US President’s comments spotlighted India’s heavy reliance on discounted Russian crude, which has surged since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, making Russia the country’s largest oil supplier at around 34% of total imports.Gandhi’s criticism painted Modi as overly deferential to Trump, pointing to a pattern of perceived capitulation. He highlighted Modi’s decision to send congratulatory messages on the recent Gaza deal between Hamas and Israel despite reported snubs from the US side, the abrupt cancellation of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s visit to Washington, and the government’s silence on Trump’s references to “Operation Sindoor,” a sensitive Indian military initiative. These instances, Gandhi argued, showed Modi allowing Trump to “dictate terms” on critical foreign policy matters, undermining India’s sovereignty
The Congress leader’s latest salvo reignited his earlier barbs over Trump’s repeated assertions that he had brokered the India-Pakistan ceasefire in May, claims the Indian government has firmly denied. Official sources in New Delhi have consistently maintained that the truce was achieved through direct contact between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan, without any third-party mediation. Gandhi’s post on social media amplified these concerns, framing Modi’s responses as hesitant and overly conciliatory toward the US amid trade pressures.India has steadfastly defended its Russian oil purchases as a pragmatic move to secure affordable energy for its growing economy.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently reiterated this stance, stating, “We make decisions that are in national interest,” while brushing aside US criticism as unwarranted. The purchases have indeed helped shield Indian consumers from global price spikes, but they have drawn sharp rebukes from Washington, culminating in an additional 25% import duty on Indian goods—bringing the total penalty to 50%—explicitly tied to the continued imports of Russian crude.
As the row unfolds, Trump’s announcement has not yet been confirmed by Indian officials, leaving room for speculation about the exact nature of the Modi-Trump discussions. With India importing over 1.6 million barrels of Russian oil daily in recent months, any abrupt halt could disrupt supply chains and inflate fuel costs, testing the balance between bilateral ties and energy security. The episode underscores the delicate tightrope New Delhi walks in navigating great-power rivalries, even as domestic politics heats up with opposition voices questioning the government’s diplomatic agility.
