Congress Alleges PM Modi 'Blackmailed' by US Over Russian Oil Permission
In a sharp political attack, the Congress party on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being "blackmailed" by the United States, citing the temporary "permission" granted by Washington to Indian refiners for purchasing oil from Russia. The opposition party asserted that India's strategic autonomy and national sovereignty are under serious threat, claiming the Modi government has reduced the nation to an almost "vassal state" in the global order.
Rahul Gandhi's Prophetic Words on Foreign Policy
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi took to social media platform X to voice his concerns, posting: "India's foreign policy emerges from the collective will of our people. It should be rooted in our history, our geography, and our spiritual ethos based on satya and ahimsa. What we are witnessing today is not policy. It is the result of the exploitation of a compromised individual."
Gandhi shared a clip from his Budget speech in the Lok Sabha in February, where he had predicted: "The US will tell us who we can or cannot buy oil from... if it is Russia or Iran, the US will decide. But our PM will not decide. And they will monitor..." Congress leaders and supporters widely circulated this speech online, hailing it as prophetic given the current developments.
Kharge's Allegations of Sovereignty Under Threat
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge escalated the criticism, alleging that India's strategic autonomy and national sovereignty are endangered because Modi is "getting blackmailed on Epstein files and the Adani case." He condemned the language used by the US—terms like "allow" and "permission"—arguing that such wording is typically reserved for sanctioned states, not for an equal partner in the international community.
Kharge emphasized the historical context, stating: "From Nehru, Indira to even Vajpayee - no PM has buckled under pressure of any country." This remark underscores the party's view that the current administration is deviating from India's traditional stance of independent foreign policy.
Broader Geopolitical Context and Implications
The allegations come amid heightened global tensions, including conflicts such as the Israel-Iran war, which have seen recent updates like Iranian criticism of the US after a torpedo sank the warship IRIS Dena, and Israeli airstrikes targeting Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's underground military bunker. Reports of Russia providing real-time intelligence to Iran on American military assets add to the complex geopolitical backdrop.
Congress's accusations highlight a growing concern over India's foreign policy direction, with the party warning that reliance on US permissions for energy imports could compromise national interests. The use of terms like "vassal state" reflects deep-seated fears about erosion of sovereignty in key strategic areas.
As this political debate unfolds, it raises critical questions about India's role on the world stage and the balance between international partnerships and domestic autonomy. The Congress party's statements signal a robust opposition stance, likely to influence public discourse and policy discussions in the coming days.
