Congress criticises govt over reported US ‘waiver’ for Russian oil purchases

Senior Congress leader K C Venugopal on Friday criticized the union government over reports related to India’s purchase of Russian oil, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of compromising the country’s energy sovereignty and foreign policy independence.

In a post on X, Venugopal said it was “deeply humiliating” for India to require a waiver from the United States in order to buy oil from Russia, which he described as a long-standing partner of the country.

“In Amrit Kaal, the Indian PM has to beg before other countries to purchase oil from where he wishes to,” Venugopal wrote. “It is deeply humiliating for India’s sovereignty and international standing that it needs a US ‘waiver’ to purchase oil from a time-tested partner like Russia.”

The Congress leader further alleged that the government was failing to stand up to pressure from United States authorities and accused the prime minister of allowing other nations to influence India’s energy choices. “Instead of standing up to the US dictating terms, Compromised PM Modi is handing our energy sovereignty on a platter to other countries,” he said.

Calling for an independent foreign policy approach, Venugopal urged the government to prioritize national interests while making strategic decisions related to energy imports. “India must take a strong independent stance and decide what is in supreme national interest — not allow other countries to dictate our foreign policy and force us to beg them for permission,” he added.

India significantly increased its imports of discounted crude oil from Russia following Western sanctions on Moscow after the outbreak of the Russia–Ukraine War in 2022. Since then, energy trade between the two countries has become a major component of India’s crude import basket.

At the same time, India has maintained diplomatic and economic relations with both Russia and Western countries, including the United States, often emphasizing its strategic autonomy in foreign policy decisions.

The issue of energy security and crude sourcing has remained politically sensitive, with opposition parties frequently questioning the government’s handling of international pressure and its implications for India’s economic and strategic interests. The government has consistently maintained that its energy policy is guided by national interest and aimed at ensuring affordable supplies for the country.