Rahul Gandhi Says PM Modi Is ‘Afraid’ of US President Trump
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has allowed US President Donald Trump to dictate India’s stance on Russian oil imports, claiming the PM is “frightened” of the American leader.
New Delhi, Oct 16: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being “frightened” of US President Donald Trump, alleging that the Indian leader has allowed Washington to dictate India’s foreign and energy policies, particularly concerning oil imports from Russia.
Gandhi’s remarks came a day after President Donald Trump claimed that Modi had assured him India would stop purchasing Russian oil a statement Trump described as a “big step” toward ending the war in Ukraine.
“PM Modi is frightened of Trump. Allows Trump to decide and announce that India will not buy Russian oil. Keeps sending congratulatory messages despite repeated snubs. Cancelled the Finance Minister’s visit to America. Skipped Sharm el-Sheikh. Doesn’t contradict him on Operation Sindoor,” Gandhi wrote on X.
Supporting Gandhi’s comments, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh also criticised the government for what he called “outsourcing India’s foreign policy decisions to the United States.”
“At 5:37 PM IST on May 10, 2025, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was the first to announce that India had halted Operation Sindoor. Since then, President Trump has claimed over 50 times across different countries that he intervened to stop the operation using tariffs and trade as leverage. Yet our PM remained silent,” Ramesh posted on X.
“Now President Trump has declared that Mr. Modi assured him India will not import oil from Russia. Mr. Modi appears to have outsourced key decisions to America. The 56-inch chest has shrunk and shrivelled,” he added.
Earlier this week, Trump told reporters at the Oval Office that the US was “not happy” with India’s continued purchase of Russian crude, asserting that such imports help fund President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.
“He (Modi) is a friend of mine, we have a great relationship… but we were not happy with him buying oil from Russia. I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he assured me they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big step,” Trump said.
India remains the second largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels after China, according to data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
Following the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, India the world’s third-largest oil importer sharply increased its imports of discounted Russian crude, with the share rising from under 1% to nearly 40% of total imports.
The Indian government, however, maintains that its energy imports are guided by national security and affordability concerns, and that its position on the conflict remains “independent and balanced.”
