Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 6: Opposition parties on Friday criticised the Union government after the United States issued a 30-day waiver allowing India to purchase Russian oil amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi shared a video of his speech in Parliament from February 11, warning that India’s energy security could be compromised if external powers dictated the country’s oil purchases. In the video, he is heard saying that decisions on whether India can buy oil from countries like Russia or Iran could end up being influenced by Washington rather than New Delhi.
Sharing the clip on social media, Gandhi said India’s foreign policy should be rooted in its history, geography and civilisational values. He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the current situation reflected a “compromised approach” rather than a coherent foreign policy.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also criticised the development, questioning how long what he termed “American blackmail” would continue. In a post on X, he suggested that the waiver highlighted excessive dependence on US approval in matters related to energy imports.
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate echoed similar views, claiming that the opposition’s concerns had been vindicated and accusing the prime minister of maintaining a “silence” on the issue.
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal also attacked the Centre, questioning why India should require permission from the United States to import oil from Russia. In a post on X, Kejriwal asked why New Delhi should depend on Washington’s approval for its energy purchases and called on the prime minister to respond to the issue.
The criticism from opposition leaders came after the United States announced a temporary waiver permitting Indian refiners to continue buying Russian crude for 30 days to ensure stability in global oil supplies. The announcement was made by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said the measure was aimed at keeping oil flowing into global markets amid rising geopolitical tensions.