NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha chief of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modiaccusing him of being “frightened” of Donald Trumphours after the US President claimed that the PM has “assured him that India would cease shopping for Russian oil”.The Congress chief stated the Prime Minister “retains sending congratulatory messages regardless of repeated snubs”.
“PM Modi is afraid of Trump. 1. Permits Trump to determine and announce that India won’t purchase Russian oil. 2. Retains sending congratulatory messages regardless of repeated snubs. 3. Canceled the Finance Minister’s go to to America. 4. Skipped Sharm el-Sheikh. 5. Would not contradict him on Operation Sindoor,” Rahul Gandhi wrote on X.Earlier, his celebration attacked PM Modi for “compromising the nation’s dignity”, calling Russia India’s shut ally. “Do not harm the nation’s relationships simply to enhance private ‘pleasant ties,” stated Congress. ,Narendra Modi has as soon as once more compromised the nation’s dignity. Based on Trump, bowing to his anger and threats, Modi assured that India would cease shopping for oil from Russia. One factor is obvious – Narendra Modi is a weak Prime Minister, and his actions have unsettled the nation’s international coverage. Russia has at all times been an in depth ally of India. Do not harm the nation’s relationships simply to enhance private ‘pleasant ties’,” Congress posted on X.Trump claimed on Wednesday that PM Modi has assured him that India will cease shopping for Russian oil, months after he imposed punitive tariffs over the purchases.“He is assured me there can be no oil bought from Russia,” Trump stated. “You realize, you may’t do it instantly. It is a little bit little bit of a course of, however the course of goes to be over quickly,” he added. Additionally learn: ‘He assured me’: Trump says PM Modi informed him he will not buy Russian oil; desires similar from ChinaResponding to ANI’s query whether or not he views India as a dependable companion, Trump stated: “Yeah, certain. He is (PM Narendra Modi) a good friend of mine. We’ve got a fantastic relationship.. I used to be not completely happy that India was shopping for oil. And he assured me at present that they won’t be shopping for oil from Russia. That is a giant cease. Now we have got to get China to do the identical factor.”“He is a good friend of mine. We’ve got a fantastic relationship. He simply stated that two days in the past, as you realize,” the Republican chief added. In the meantime, Russia stays India’s single-largest supply of oil, accounting for 34% of inbound shipments in September, though volumes have slipped 10% within the first eight months of 2025, in accordance with commodities and transport markets tracker Kpler.The company’s newest report pegs India’s crude imports in September at greater than 4.5 million bpd (barrels per day).This is a rise of 70,000 barrels over August however flat when in comparison with the year-ago interval, says the report, including Russian oil accounted for a tad underneath 1.6 million bpd, or 34% of crude imports. India’s general crude imports in October have broadly remained according to expectations at 1.6 million bpd. Nevertheless, Russian crude shipments have seen a drop of 180,000 from the typical volumes imported in the course of the first eight months of 2025, says the report.The drop within the imports is only pushed by market dynamics and never due to US tariff risk and European criticism towards India’s continued buy of these barrels.