Trump claims Modi cut Russian oil import, calls him 'good guy'; Congress slams "appease US policy"

US President Donald Trump has stirred a political storm by claiming that India significantly reduced its purchase of Russian oil primarily to appease Washington. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a "very good man" and a "good guy." Trump asserted that New Delhi adjusted its energy policy after realizing his displeasure, stating, "He knew I was not happy, and it was important to make me happy."

Senator Lindsey Graham, traveling with Trump, further argued that the threat of US tariffs served as an effective foreign policy tool, forcing India to scale back its reliance on Russian energy. According to Graham, this move is crucial in weakening Moscow’s financial ability to sustain the war in Ukraine. Trump reinforced this by mentioning that India conducts significant trade with the US, and Washington maintains the leverage to raise tariffs quickly if needed.

The remarks have provided fresh ammunition to the opposition in India. The Congress party took to social media to question whether India’s sovereign foreign policy is now being dictated by US interests. "Is the decision to reduce Russian oil imports taken to appease Trump?" the party asked in a tweet. They criticized the Prime Minister's silence on Trump's claims of brokering a ceasefire and his previous threats of sanctions, labeling the situation as "silent submission."

The Congress further demanded to know why the Prime Minister appears "intimidated" by the US President and why the nation should "pay the price for Modi’s weakness." They emphasized that India deserves a robust and independent foreign policy rather than one shaped by external pressure. The government is yet to issue a formal rebuttal to Trump's specific claims regarding the motivation behind India's shifting energy strategy.