Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday taunted the Congress and asked if its leaders understood geopolitics. Goyal said the Congress party needs introspection as even the opposition does not consider the Congress as its leader.
“I think they have to make a decision, whether they have a policy, a mindset or a geopolitical understanding,” Goyal said, hours after Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, criticized the Narendra Modi government amid Donald Trump’s claims about Russian oil purchases.
“A few days ago I heard Congress asking why there is no trade deal. It is a party without a rudder, without a leader and without a goal. The Congress really needs to introspect because I suspect that today even the opposition does not look to the Congress as its leader. country leadershipGoyal told news agency ANI.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday took a dig at the center and said that decisions taken by the Indian government are being announced by US President Donald Trump.
Vehicle Tariffs Vehicle Tariffs: Ramesh
“Decisions taken by the Government of India are announced by President Trump in Washington DC. Yahan se tareef, wahan se cla,” Ramesh, principal secretary in charge of communications in Congress, told ANI.
Ramesh’s remarks came hours after President Trump said he had been assured by Prime Minister Modi that Delhi would stop buying Russian oil, months after the US imposed punitive tariffs on India over those imports.
Earlier, Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on PM Modi, claiming that he is “terrified” of Trump. He disputed the US President’s claim and cited allegations against the Center to back up his point.
It comes after the US president said on Wednesday (local time) that Prime Minister Modi had assured him that India would stop buying oil from Russia, calling it a “big step” in a bid to increase global pressure on Moscow.
Trump said this at a joint news conference with FBI Director Kash Patel in the Oval Office, where the two emphasized the administration’s efforts to reduce violent crime.
“MEA responds: Protect interests…”
India on Thursday responded to US President Donald Trump’s comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurances to stop purchases of Russian oil, saying that the country’s energy sources are governed by its national interests and the need to protect Indian consumers.
Responding to media queries, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “India is a major importer of oil and natural gas. Our constant priority has been to protect the interests of Indian consumers in an unstable energy scenario. Our import policy is guided solely by this objective. Ensuring stable energy prices and assured supply are the two objectives of our energy policy. This includes a broad base and diversification of energy sources. as appropriate to meet market conditions.”
