Congress targets PM Modi as Trump repeats his claim on Russian oil

The Congress on Tuesday (October 21, 2025) criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi after U.S. President Donald Trump’s fresh claim that Mr. Modi, in a telephonic conversation, had “assured” him that India would stop buying Russian crude oil. Accusing Mr. Modi of being “loud at home” but “silent abroad”, the party sought clarity on the issue.

Intensifying its attack on the Modi government, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Mr. Trump had raised the issue thrice in the past five days, “clearly brushing aside” the Ministry of External Affairs’s (MEA) stand that no such phone conversation took place between the two leaders.

“The matter of India’s imports of oil from Russia has been raised by President Trump now thrice in the past five days. And no doubt he will keep increasing this tally as he prepares to meet President (Vladimir) Putin in Budapest later in the week. President Trump says he has spoken to his good friend Mr. Modi and India has promised to stop these imports. The MEA says that it is unaware of such conversations(!) but President Trump has clearly brushed aside the MEA’s attempts at denial,” Mr. Ramesh said in a post on X.

Speaking to reporters onboard Air Force One on Sunday, Mr. Trump said India will continue to pay massive tariffs if it does not cease buying oil from Russia, adding that it (India) does not want to do that. The U.S. President was replying to a question about India’s recent remarks on oil purchases from Russia.

“Why is Modi not replying to Trump directly? Why is he hiding behind the External Affairs Ministry and asking officers to respond? If Trump is lying — say it yourself, Mr. Modi. If he’s telling the truth — then explain to the people of India. Typical Modi style — loud at home, silent abroad. Different stories for Delhi and Washington,” Congress Whip in the Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore said in a post on X.

Last Wednesday, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said he was not aware of any such phone conversation between the U.S. President and the Indian Prime Minister, emphasising that India’s oil purchases are guided by the interests of the Indian consumers in a “volatile” energy scenario.