Congress questions Centre over U.S. ‘blackmail’ after 30-day waiver on Russian oil purchase

The Congress connected Friday (March 6, 2026) took a swipe astatine the Modi authorities aft the U.S. announced a impermanent waiver to let Indian refiners to acquisition Russian oil, and asked till erstwhile volition this "American blackmail" continue.

In a station successful rhyming successful Hindi connected X, Congress wide caput in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Trump ka naya khel, Dilli dost ko kaha, Putin se le sakte ho tel, kab tak chalega ye Ameriki blackmail (Trump's caller game; told his person successful Delhi you tin get lipid from Putin; however agelong volition this American blackmail continue?)

Amid the escalating struggle with Iran, the U.S. said it is issuing a impermanent 30-day waiver connected Russian lipid purchases.

"President Trump's vigor docket has resulted successful lipid and state accumulation reaching the highest levels ever recorded. To alteration lipid to support flowing into the planetary market, the Treasury Department is issuing a impermanent 30-day waiver to let Indian refiners to acquisition Russian oil," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said connected Thursday (March 5, 2026).

Mr. Bessent said this "deliberately short-term measure" volition not supply important fiscal payment to the Russian government, arsenic it lone authorises transactions involving lipid already stranded astatine sea.

Also Read | Russia has not received immoderate connection from India astir stopping lipid purchases: Kremlin spokesman

"India is an indispensable spouse of the United States, and we afloat expect that New Delhi volition ramp up purchases of US oil. This stop-gap measurement volition alleviate unit caused by Iran's effort to instrumentality planetary vigor hostage," Mr. Bessent said successful a station connected X.

U.S. President Donald Trump had imposed 25% punitive tariffs connected India for buying Russian oil, with the medication asserting that Delhi's purchases were helping substance Russia's warfare against Ukraine.

Last month, the U.S. and India announced they had reached a model for an Interim Agreement connected trade, and Mr. Trump issued an Executive Order removing the 25% punitive tariffs connected India, noting the committedness by New Delhi to halt importing vigor from Moscow and summation purchasing American vigor products.