NEW DELHI:

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he appeared “intimidated” by former US President Donald Trump. His remarks came after Trump claimed that PM Modi had assured him that India would halt the purchase of Russian oil.

 

In a detailed post on X, Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of yielding to Trump’s influence and listed five points to support his claim.

According to Gandhi, the Prime Minister —

 

1. Allowed Trump to publicly declare that India would not import oil from Russia.

 

 

2. Continued to send congratulatory messages to Trump despite repeated dismissals.

 

 

3. Withdrew the Finance Minister’s scheduled visit to the United States.

 

 

4. Chose not to attend the Sharm el-Sheikh summit.

 

 

5. Refrained from responding to Trump’s statements on Operation Sindoor.

 

 

 

Rahul Gandhi asserted that these actions reflect a concerning lack of assertiveness on the Prime Minister’s part and accused him of compromising the nation’s dignity in the international arena.

 

The Congress party also echoed Gandhi’s criticism on X, alleging that PM Modi, influenced by Trump’s pressure and threats, had agreed to discontinue India’s oil imports from Russia. The party said the move undermines India’s longstanding relationship with Russia, a trusted strategic ally.

 

“Prime Minister Modi has once again weakened India’s global standing. In pursuit of personal ties, he risks damaging crucial diplomatic partnerships,” Congress stated.