October 16, 2025

Hold on tight, India! A fiery political storm is brewing after US President Donald Trump revealed that PM Narendra Modi assured him India will stop buying oil from Russia. Rahul Gandhi didn't hold back and fired sharp jabs at Modi, calling him “frightened of Trump” in a bold post on X (formerly Twitter). Rahul's post was like a spicy checklist of Modi’s recent moves: "Allows Trump to decide and announce that India will not buy Russian oil; Keeps sending congratulatory messages despite repeated snubs; Canceled the Finance Minister’s visit to America; Skipped Sharm el-Sheikh; Doesn’t contradict him on Operation Sindoor.” Ouch! That’s some serious criticism. The Congress party joined the attack train, calling Modi a “weak” leader who compromised India’s honour and foreign policy. The party’s official tweet blasted Modi, saying, "Narendra Modi has once again struck a deal at the cost of the country's honour. Trump says — fearing his anger and threats, Modi has assured that India will not buy oil from Russia.” Congress also took a sting at Modi for hurting India’s strong friendship with Russia: "Russia has always been a special ally of India. Don’t ruin the country's relations just to fix your own hugging relationships," they warned. What triggered all this drama? It began at the Oval Office when Trump said in a press conference with FBI Director Kash Patel, "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.” He added this was a "big step" and added pressure on China too. Trump explained, "We were not happy with him buying oil from Russia, because that lets Russia continue on with this ridiculous war, where they’ve lost a million and a half people, soldiers mostly." But India didn’t stay quiet. New Delhi insists its buying of Russian crude is based on national interest and economic sense, especially with the prices going crazy worldwide. India says cheap oil imports are essential for its energy security and growth. Despite repeated calls from Washington, India has defended its right to trade with Russia, following its sovereign economic policy. Meanwhile, Trump has slapped a 25% additional tariff on Indian goods and describes India’s ongoing Russian oil imports as an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to US interests, shaking up politics and diplomacy in both countries. So, will Modi stand firm, or will Trump’s pressure force a change? The drama is far from over, and India’s foreign policy is under the spotlight like never before!

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Tags: Rahul gandhi, Narendra modi, Donald trump, Russia oil, India-us relations, Congress,