The Congress party has sharply criticized the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following statements made by US President Donald Trump regarding India’s oil imports from Russia. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh pointed out that this is the fourth instance in six days where President Trump has publicly declared India’s policy decisions, suggesting a lack of transparency in the Prime Minister’s communication regarding foreign policy matters.
Ramesh sarcastically remarked that “while Mr. Modi conceals, Mr. Trump reveals,” implying that President Trump often discloses details of their conversations that Prime Minister Modi either omits or downplays. The Congress’s stance comes after Trump mentioned in a Diwali celebration that Prime Minister Modi had assured him during a phone call that India would reduce its purchases of Russian oil. Modi’s social media acknowledgement of the call, however, only mentioned Diwali greetings and did not touch upon the specifics of the trade discussions.
This exchange highlights a recurring theme where the Congress alleges that Prime Minister Modi remains reticent about conversations with Trump, especially concerning sensitive international trade issues, such as India’s oil imports from Russia. Trump’s repeated statements on the matter, made in the context of US tariffs on Indian goods, have prompted the Congress to call for greater openness and potentially an all-party meeting to discuss the implications of these foreign policy interactions.
The Indian government, through the Ministry of External Affairs, has stated that energy sourcing is guided by market conditions and the aim to safeguard consumer interests in a volatile global energy scenario, without confirming or denying specific assurances made in private conversations.