The Congress party has taken a jab at the current government following US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims about India’s oil imports from Russia. The opposition pointed out that this is the fourth time in just six days that the US President has publicly announced India’s policy on the matter. The Congress wryly commented that what Prime Minister Narendra Modi conceals, Trump tends to reveal.
This political commentary emerged after President Trump contacted Prime Minister Modi to offer Diwali greetings. Jairam Ramesh, the Congress general secretary in charge of communications, noted that while the Prime Minister’s office acknowledged the call and the Diwali wishes, it remained silent on other discussion points. Ramesh stated, “The PM has finally acknowledged publicly that President Trump called him up and that the two spoke to each other. But all that the PM has said is that the US President extended Diwali greetings. But while Mr. Modi conceals, Mr. Trump reveals.”
Ramesh further elaborated on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “On his part, the US President has said that in addition to extending Diwali greetings, he spoke of India’s oil imports from Russia and that he had been assured that these imports will be stopped. This is the 4th time in 6 days that the US President has announced India’s policy.” He recalled that President Trump had previously announced the stoppage of certain operations before Prime Minister Modi did.
Prime Minister Modi, in his post on X, expressed his gratitude to President Trump for the Diwali greetings and hoped that both democracies would continue to “illuminate the world with hope and stand united against terrorism in all its forms.” The interaction between the two leaders occurs at a time when US-India relations are reportedly strained due to trade tariffs and other issues.
Earlier, President Trump had shared his positive view of India and the relationship with Prime Minister Modi, stating at the White House, “I love the people of India. We’re working on some great deals between our countries. I spoke to Prime Minister Modi today and we just have a very good relationship’. He added, “He’s not going to buy much oil from Russia. He wants to see that war end as much as I do. He wants to see the war between Russia and Ukraine to end.” Trump concluded by mentioning, “They’re not going to be buying too much oil. So they’ve cut it way back, and they’re continuing to cut it way back.”