Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being intimidated by US President Donald Trump, citing recent developments, including the recent allegation regarding Russian oil purchases.
Gandhi’s remarks came hours after President Trump said Prime Minister Modi had assured him that Delhi would stop buying Russian oil, months after the US imposed punitive tariffs on India over those imports.
“Prime Minister Modi is afraid of Trump. 1. Allows Trump to decide and announce that India will not buy Russian oil. 2. Despite repeated backbiting, keeps sending congratulatory messages. 3. Cancels Finance Minister’s visit to America. 4. Skips Sharm el-Sheikh. 5. Does not contradict him on Operation Sindoor,” Gandhi said in X’s post.
What did Donald Trump say?
Trump said securing assurances from Prime Minister Modi was part of a broader diplomatic effort to cut off Moscow’s energy revenues amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
New Delhi has not yet responded to Trump’s claim that India will stop importing Russian oil.
President Trump also called Prime Minister Modi “my friend” and a close partner despite friction over energy policy, noting, “We have a great relationship,” when asked if he saw India as a reliable partner amid tensions with China.
Gandhi, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has repeatedly targeted PM Modi for allowing President Trump to “dictate” the terms amid an exchange of congratulatory messages and calls in spite of contempt.
Gandhi also criticized Prime Minister Modi for “not refuting” Trump’s repeated claims of brokering an India-Pakistan ceasefire after Operation Sindoor in May. However, the government has consistently maintained that the ceasefire was reached after contact between Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) and India without third-party mediation.
India–US ties
Relations between Delhi and Washington are under severe strain after Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to a whopping 50%, including a 25% additional duty on India’s purchase of Russian oil.
India called the US action “unfair, unjustified and disproportionate”. India is also upset over Trump’s new policy on H1B visas.
However, recent phone conversations between Prime Minister Modi and US President Trump have raised hopes for a positive outcome of the ongoing trade talks.
