The Indian National Congress on Friday assailed the Narendra Modi-led BJP government after the US temporarily allowed Russian oil stranded at sea to be sold to India, saying the move called into question the country’s autonomy in matters of national interest.
The waiver, which the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said was issued to “enable oil to keep flowing into the global market,” comes under heightened tensions in the Middle East following the US-Israeli attack on Iran, sparking uncertainty around oil.
It should be noted that India had earlier said it would stop purchasing Russian oil as part of a trade deal with the US.
In a post on X, the Congress, citing the development, criticised the Indian government, and stressed that the BJP-led government “has led the country to a situation where the US is now deciding where India can buy oil from and where it cannot”.
“This decision is not being made by Prime Minister Modi, nor by the Indian government,” it said.
Congress said the Indian citizens were asking, “Who is the US to ‘permit’ India to buy oil?”
“We are not slaves to any nation; we are a sovereign and independent country. Period,” Congress said.
It added that Modi was unable to question US authority, “because he is completely compromised and has mortgaged the country to American interests”.