The Congress on Friday took a swipe at the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre after the a temporary waiver allowing Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict.
Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, took to X, asking how long will the “American blackmail” continue. He wrote: “Trump’s new game, told the friend you can get oil from Putin. How long will this American blackmail go on?”
The party’s comments came just hours after the US allowed India to buy Russian oil for a short period amid emerging concerns about supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict, Reuters reported.
ट्रम्प का नया खेल
दिल्ली दोस्त को कहा
पुतिन से ले सकते हो तेल
कब तक चलेगा
यह अमेरिकी ब्लैकमेल
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh)
The US Treasury Department stated that the measure would last for 30 days and is essentially aimed at keeping oil supplies flowing in the global market.
‘Who is America to grant India permission…’: Kejriwal
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor too took a dig at the prime minister for bowing before Trump, as well as lacking the courage to stand for the country.
Over a post on X, Kejriwal wrote: “In the past few months, the countrymen have watched in great anguish as, one after another, at every step, you have bowed before Trump, and you didn’t even have the courage to speak up in front of him. Mr. Modi, what exactly is this compulsion of yours that has you bowing before Trump?”
भारत को रशिया से तेल ख़रीदने की इज़ाज़त देने वाला अमेरिका कौन होता है? भारत को अमेरिका से इज़ाज़त की क्यो ज़रूरत है?
पिछले कुछ महीनों में देशवासियों ने बहुत पीड़ा के साथ देखा है कि किस तरह एक के बाद एक, हर कदम पर आप ट्रम्प के सामने झुक गए और आपकी उसके सामने बोलने तक की हिम्मत…
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal)
Kejriwal went on to demand PM Modi’s resignation for “bowing India’s head” in front of the US President. “If you truly have some compulsion that Trump is exploiting, then for the sake of India and Indian interests, please resign. But do not bow India’s head like this. All countrymen are in deep pain,” he wrote.
Indian refiners have begun buying millions of barrels of Russian crude for quick delivery following Washington’s waiver. Two crude oil tankers laden with Russian oil, which were earlier showing East Asia as their destination, on Thursday, as per ship tracking data. Another tanker, while still showing Singapore as its destination, appears to be heading towards India’s west coast instead.
The move comes after months of pressure from the US on New Delhi to cut imports of Russian oil following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak on Wednesday said that Moscow was ready to satisfy additional demand for oil from India and China, if the need arises. “Our oil is in demand. If they buy, we will sell,” Russian news agency Interfax quoted Novak as saying.
The Congress party has criticised the Centre over the interim India-US trade agreement framework on several occasions.
The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has also accused PM Modi and the Centre of “selling the country” by conceding to the United States on agriculture, data and textiles under “pressure.”
His speech in the Lok Sabha on the in February revolved around the specifics, or the lack of it, of the deal. Gandhi has alleged that the to unreleased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein files and a criminal case in the US allegedly involving the Adani Group.
On February 21, Gandhi wrote on X: “The PM is compromised. His betrayal now stands exposed. He can’t renegotiate. He will surrender again.” This after US President was forced by the US Supreme Court to announce a 10 per cent global tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.
