India’s government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has come under fresh criticism from opposition parties and political leaders after the United States announced that it had temporarily allowed Indian companies to purchase Russian oil stranded at sea.
The controversy began after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wrote on X that Washington was issuing a 30-day waiver to Indian refiners. The decision allows them to buy Russian oil shipments that are currently stuck at sea in order to keep global oil supplies flowing. Opposition parties in India quickly reacted, saying the statement made the country appear dependent on US approval for its energy purchases.
In a sharp comment on X, the Congress party said the Modi government had pushed India “to a situation where the United States is now deciding where India can buy oil from and where it cannot.” The waiver comes at a time when tensions in the Middle East have increased after US and Israeli attacks on Iran. The situation has created uncertainty in global energy markets and raised concerns about possible disruptions in oil supplies.
Earlier, India had indicated that it would reduce purchases of Russian oil as part of a trade understanding with the United States. MK Stalin, the chief minister of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, also criticized the situation and questioned why India should appear to seek approval from any foreign government for its energy needs.
He also expressed concern about another development in the region. Stalin referred to the sinking of the unarmed Iranian warship IRIS Dena by the United States soon after it participated in the International Fleet Review 2026 naval exercise hosted by India in Visakhapatnam.
“When a ship that came to India as part of a multinational exercise meets such a fate, India cannot appear silent or passive,” he said. Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the waiver, saying it was a temporary step designed to prevent disruptions in global oil markets.
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“This deliberately short-term measure will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government, as it only authorises transactions involving oil already stranded at sea,” he said. Bessent added that the United States expects India to increase purchases of American oil in the future.
He also described India as an important partner for Washington and said the temporary move would help reduce pressure created by Iran’s actions affecting global energy supplies. The debate also spread among journalists and commentators. Indian journalist Rana Ayyub wrote that, with America’s permission, “we now sound like an American colony.”
India was the largest buyer of Russian seaborne crude oil after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. However, earlier this year, Indian refiners started cutting back on Russian purchases due to pressure from Washington. Reducing imports of Russian oil helped India avoid potential 25% tariffs and secure an interim trade deal with the United States. India remains vulnerable to energy supply disruptions. Its strategic oil reserves can cover only about 25 days of national demand.
Around 40% of India’s oil imports come from the Middle East and pass through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes. According to The Guardian, citing Reuters, a source familiar with the matter said India had approached the administration of US President Donald Trump to seek approval for buying Russian crude because of the growing conflict involving Iran.
