NEW DELHI: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of being “frightened” of US President Donald Trump, after Trump claimed that the Indian Prime Minister had assured him that India would stop buying Russian oil.
The Congress leader’s remarks came hours after Trump, while speaking to reporters in Washington, said Modi had personally told him that India would “no longer purchase oil from Russia” — a statement that has triggered a political storm in India, with the Opposition accusing the government of compromising national interests and foreign policy independence.
Rahul Gandhi calls Modi ‘frightened of Trump’
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Rahul Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of succumbing to American pressure and undermining India’s strategic autonomy.
“PM 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 Minister’s visit to America.
- Skipped Sharm el-Sheikh.
- Doesn’t contradict him on Operation Sindoor,” Gandhi wrote.
He alleged that Modi was allowing Trump to dictate India’s foreign policy while failing to protect the country’s diplomatic standing.
Congress accuses Modi of ‘compromising national dignity’
The Congress party also issued a strong statement, accusing the government of bowing to Trump’s threats and damaging long-standing ties with Russia.
“According to Trump, bowing to his anger and threats, Modi assured that India would stop buying oil from Russia. One thing is clear — Narendra Modi is a weak Prime Minister, and his actions have unsettled the nation’s foreign policy,” the party said in a post on X.
The party added, “Russia has always been a close ally of India. Don’t damage the country’s relationships just to improve personal ‘friendly ties’.”
The Opposition’s attack comes amid renewed scrutiny of India’s oil trade with Russia, which has continued despite Western sanctions following the Ukraine war.
Trump’s claim and US stance on Russian oil
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump told reporters that Prime Minister Modi had assured him of ending oil imports from Russia, months after Washington imposed punitive tariffs over the purchases.
“He’s assured me there will be no oil purchased from Russia,” Trump said. “You know, you can’t do it immediately — it’s a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over soon.”
When asked by reporters whether he considered India a reliable partner, Trump replied:
“Yeah, sure. He’s (PM Modi) a friend of mine. We have a great relationship. I was not happy that India was buying oil. And he assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big stop. Now we’ve got to get China to do the same thing.”
Trump added that Modi had reaffirmed their “great friendship” just two days prior.
India’s oil imports: facts and figures
Despite Trump’s comments, trade data indicates that India continues to import significant volumes of Russian crude oil.
According to commodities and shipping tracker Kpler, Russia remained India’s largest oil supplier in September 2025, accounting for 34% of inbound shipments — around 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd) out of India’s total imports of 4.5 million bpd.
However, data also showed that imports from Russia dropped by 10% in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the previous year. Experts attributed this decline to market adjustments and pricing differentials, not political pressure.
“India’s crude import mix reflects commercial considerations and refinery economics rather than political alignments,” an energy analyst said, adding that no official policy shift had been announced by New Delhi regarding Russian oil.
No official response from Indian government
As of Thursday evening, there was no official statement from the Ministry of External Affairs or the Prime Minister’s Office confirming or denying Trump’s claims.
Diplomatic sources suggested that India’s position on Russian energy remains unchanged — that it will “continue to buy oil wherever it gets the best deal, in the interest of national energy security.”
Observers noted that this is not the first time Trump has made controversial remarks involving Modi. In 2020, he had claimed that Modi was “begging” him to mediate on the Kashmir issue — a statement the Indian government had promptly rejected.
Political and diplomatic implications
Analysts say Trump’s latest remarks, combined with Rahul Gandhi’s sharp reaction, could reignite the debate over India’s balancing act between the West and Russia.
While India has significantly increased oil imports from Russia since 2022, it has simultaneously strengthened defence and technology ties with the United States.
“India has walked a fine line between strategic autonomy and pragmatic diplomacy. Such remarks from foreign leaders can complicate this balance, especially during election season,” a foreign policy expert observed.