The Centre on Saturday asserted that India has never depended on permission from any country to purchase Russian oil, even as a political row erupted after US officials said Washington had allowed Indian refiners to buy Russian crude under a temporary sanctions waiver.
In a statement, the government said India continues to import oil from sources offering the most competitive prices in the national interest, adding that energy supplies remain stable despite disruptions caused by escalating tensions in the Middle East.
“India has never depended on permission from any country to buy Russian oil,” the government said, noting that Russia remains India’s largest crude oil supplier.
The statement came after the United States issued a 30-day waiver allowing Russian oil already loaded on ships to be sold to India in order to ease supply constraints in global markets amid the conflict in West Asia.
The government said India has diversified its crude sourcing from 27 countries to 40 countries in recent years, ensuring multiple supply routes and improving energy security.
It also highlighted that India holds more than 250 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products in reserves and across its supply chain, which provides a buffer equivalent to about seven to eight weeks of consumption.
India’s total refining capacity currently stands at 258 million metric tonnes per annum, which exceeds domestic demand and enables the country to export refined petroleum products to global markets.
Global oil prices have surged sharply amid tensions in the Gulf region, with prices rising more than eight per cent on Friday and nearly 30 per cent over the past week.
Congress attacks Centre over US remarks
Meanwhile, the Congress intensified its criticism of the Modi government after US officials said Washington had “allowed” India to purchase Russian oil.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh accused the government of compromising India’s autonomy and mocked what he described as the ruling party’s strongman image.
“Does anything more need to be said about how cowardly and compromised the self-proclaimed 56-inch chest has become?” Ramesh said in a post on X, sharing a video clip of US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
In an interview with Fox Business, Bessent said the US Treasury had agreed to let “our allies in India” buy Russian oil that was already on ships in order to ease global supply pressures.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright also said the US had allowed India to take Russian oil already at sea, refine it and release the supply into global markets to stabilise prices amid disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz.
However, government sources dismissed the Opposition’s criticism, reiterating that India’s energy policy is guided solely by national interest and market conditions, and not by approval from any other country.
Also read: Indian refiners turn to Russian oil after US 30-day waiver
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