Congress took strong exception to a US senator ‘s warning to India over its oil trade with Russia on Thursday.
Party MP Pawan Khera flagged the language used after Democratic senator Richard Blumenthal asked India to “clean up” its act.
The remark by US senator, who took a stern tone against countries buying oil from Russia, did not go down well with the opposition party. Buy your oil and gas somewhere else. Appeasement is not a strategy.
After the US House of Representatives passed the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, Blumenthal sounded a warning to India and other countries, saying, “To China and India: You better clean up your act. Earlier reporting noted: The act, which will grant the Trump administration the authority to place tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the five top purchasers of Russian oil and gas, was passed in the US House of Representatives by a 262-159 margin.
“What kind of language is being used for our country,” asked Khera in a post on X. Earlier reporting noted: ‘Russian oil buyers will have to pay’: US senator backs bill threatening higher tariffs on India As the US House of Representatives cleared a bill posing a threat of up to 100% tariffs on India, China and other countries, a senator backed the proposal, saying a “strong message” was needed for countries buying Russian oil. Earlier reporting noted: “We need to send a very strong message, not just to Vladimir Putin, but to anybody who is buying Russian oil and gas, that they are going to pay a price for that,” said Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen on Thursday after the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 bill cleared the House.
India’s Response to US Sanctions on Russia
In light of the US House of Representatives passing a sanctions bill targeting Russia, India has committed to safeguarding its trade and economic interests. The bill empowers the Trump administration to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five importers of Russian oil, a move that could significantly impact global oil markets. India’s reaction underscores its intent to navigate the complexities of international trade amid escalating tensions between the US and Russia.
Trump to Sign Legislation Allowing Tariffs on Russian Oil and Gas
The bill recently passed with a vote of 262-159 and is now awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature. This new legislation grants Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on major buyers of Russian oil and gas. The move aims to exert economic pressure on Russia amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.
