Cong Slams Modi Govt Over US ’30-Day Waiver’ for Russian Oil Imports, Alleges Erosion of India’s Sovereignty
New Delhi: In a sharp attack on the Union Government, Congress leader and Chairman of Media & Publicity, Pawan Khera today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of turning India into a “puppet state” or “vassal” of the United States. Addressing a press conference at the AICC office on 24 Akbar Road, Khera described the recent US decision to grant India a temporary 30-day waiver for purchasing Russian oil as a humiliating “alms” rather than an independent policy choice.
The waiver, issued by the US Treasury Department amid escalating conflict in West Asia disrupting global energy supplies, allows Indian refiners to buy Russian crude and petroleum products loaded on vessels before March 5, 2026, with deliveries permitted until early April. US officials framed it as a measure to stabilize global oil markets without significantly benefiting Russia financially.
Khera, however, portrayed it as proof of India’s diminished strategic autonomy. He claimed the government had been “waiting for America’s permission” to import oil from Russia, a long-standing partner offering favorable prices. Mocking Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Khera alleged that responses from government “sources” deliberately omitted Russia until US approval was secured, suggesting officials operate in Washington’s time zone.
The Congress leader linked this to broader allegations of India’s subservience under Modi. He referenced statements from US officials, including at the Munich Security Conference on February 14, 2026, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke of reviving Western dominance post-World War II, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar present but silent. Khera also cited remarks by Senior White House Policy Advisor Shri Ram Krishnan on prioritizing American AI infrastructure globally, and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau at the Raisina Dialogue on March 5, 2026, who expressed excitement over a near-finalized US-India trade deal while warning against repeating “mistakes” made with China—implying limits on India’s commercial rise to protect American interests.
Khera accused the government of accepting restrictions without a signed trade deal, calling India a “client state” or “banana republic.” He tied this to personal fears, repeatedly alluding to “Epstein’s gang” influencing Modi and his cabinet, rendering them “compromised” and unable to assert India’s interests.
On foreign policy front, Khera criticized the government’s silence on the recent sinking of an Iranian ship in the Indian Ocean—attributed to US actions—despite India’s superior naval capabilities compared to neighbours like Sri Lanka, which responded promptly in similar incidents. He noted delayed condolences for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, only extended via Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri signing a condolence book after opposition pressure, contrasting with past practices.
Warning of economic fallout if waivers are not extended amid potential US dominance over oil routes from Iran and Venezuela, Khera said households face rising costs for fuel, LPG, fertilizers, and food. He vowed the Congress would raise these issues aggressively in the upcoming Parliament session starting March 9, questioning how a “compromised” leadership can deliver justice to Indians.
Khera’s fiery address, interspersed with video clips, underscored the opposition’s narrative of a government prioritizing external pressures over national pride and independence. The BJP has dismissed such claims as baseless outrage, insisting the waiver is a technical measure for global supply stability.
