PM Modi is 'frightened' of Trump, has outsourced key decisions to US: Congress

The Congress on Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is frightened of US President Donald Trump and appears to have outsourced key decisions to America as it launched a scathing attack on the government over Trumps claim that Modi has assured that India will stop buying Russian oilHitting out at PM Modi Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that Modi allowed Trump to decide and announce that India will not buy Russian oil and keeps sending congratulatory messages despite repeated snubsThe opposition partys assertion came after Trump claimed that his friend PM Modi has assured him that India would stop purchasing oil from Russia a move he described as a big step toward increasing pressure on Moscow over its invasion of UkrainePM Modi is frightened of Trump Allows Trump to decide and announce that India will not buy Russian oil Keeps sending congratulatory messages despite repeated snubs Cancelled the Finance Ministers visit to America Skipped Sharm elSheikh Doesnt contradict him on Operation Sindoor Gandhi said on XPM Modi is frightened of Trump1 Allows Trump to decide and announce that India will not buy Russian oil2 Keeps sending congratulatory messages despite repeated snubs3 Canceled the Finance Ministerrsquos visit to America4 Skipped Sharm elSheikh5 Doesnrsquot contradict himhellipmdash Rahul Gandhi RahulGandhi October 16 2025Congress general secretary incharge communications Jairam Ramesh also lashed out at the government over the issueAt 537 PM Indian Standard Time on May 10 2025 the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was the very first to announce that India has halted Operation Sindoor Subsequently President Trump has claimed 51 times in 5 different countries that he had intervened to stop Operation Sindoor by using tariffs and trade as his weapon of pressure Yet our PM kept silent Ramesh said on XAt 537 PM Indian Standard Time on May 10 2025 the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was the very first to announce that India has halted Operation SindoorSubsequently President Trump has claimed 51 times in 5 different countries that he had intervened to stop Operationhellip httpstcodiXJdisj4Cmdash Jairam Ramesh Jairam_Ramesh October 16 2025Now President Trump has declared yesterday that Mr Modi has assured him that India will not import oil from Russia Mr Modi appears to have outsourced key decisions to America The 56inch chest has shrunk and shrivelled he saidSpeaking with reporters at his Oval Office on Wednesday Trump said the US was not happy that India was buying Russian crude arguing such purchases helped finance President Vladimir Putins warHe Modi is a friend of mine we have a great relationship we were not happy with him buying oil from Russia because that let Russia continue on with this ridiculous war where theyve lost a million and a half people Trump said in response to a questionI was not happy that India was buying oil and Modi assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia Thats a big step Now weve got to get China to do the same thing he saidIndia is the secondlargest buyer of Russian fossil fuels behind China according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air CREAPraising PM Modis leadership Trump said I have watched India for years Its an incredible country and every single year you would have a new leader Some would be in there for a few months and this was year after year after year and my friend has been there now for a long time and hes assured me there will be no oil purchases from RussiaHe added that the phaseout would take time but that it was already underwayHe Modi has assured me there will be no oil purchased from Russia I dont know maybe thats a breaking story Can I say that Hes not buying his oil from Russia It has started He cant do it immediately its a little bit of a process but the process is going to be over soon Trump claimedHe said India could resume energy trade with Moscow after the RussiaUkraine war is overTraditionally reliant on Middle Eastern oil India the worlds thirdlargest oil importer significantly increased its imports from Russia following the February 2022 Ukraine invasionWestern sanctions and reduced European demand made Russian oil available at steep discounts As a result Indias Russian crude imports surged from under 1 per cent to nearly 40 per cent of its total crude oil imports in a short spanNew Delhi has been maintaining that its oil imports are driven by national energy security and affordability concerns and that its position on the RussiaUkraine conflict remains independent and balancedWith inputs from Agencies