Rahul Gandhi Claims Modi is ‘Frightened’ of Trump’s Influence

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being “frightened” of former US President Donald Trump. This assertion follows Trump’s recent remarks that Modi assured him India would cease purchasing oil from Russia, a move Trump characterized as a significant step in pressuring Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

During a statement on October 16, 2023, Gandhi expressed concern that Modi has allowed Trump to dictate India’s energy policy. He criticized the Prime Minister for sending congratulatory messages to Trump despite facing repeated diplomatic snubs. Gandhi specifically highlighted the cancellation of India’s Finance Minister’s visit to the United States and Modi’s absence at international forums like the Sharm el-Sheikh summit.

On social media platform X, Gandhi stated, “PM Modi is frightened of Trump. Allows Trump to decide and announce that India will not buy Russian oil.” He further emphasized that Modi has not contradicted Trump regarding the sensitive issue of Operation Sindoor, which is reportedly tied to strategic military decisions.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also criticized the government’s stance. He noted that on May 10, 2025, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was the first to claim that India had halted Operation Sindoor. Ramesh pointed out that Trump has publicly asserted his influence over India’s decisions regarding this operation on multiple occasions.

In his comments, Trump expressed dissatisfaction with India’s oil purchases from Russia, which he argued finance President Vladimir Putin‘s war efforts. “He (Modi) is a friend of mine, we have a great relationship,” Trump stated during a press conference. “I was not happy that India was buying oil, and (Modi) assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big step.”

India has become the second-largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels, trailing only behind China, as per data from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India significantly ramped up its imports of Russian oil, which surged from under 1 percent to nearly 40 percent of its total crude oil imports. This increase was largely fueled by Western sanctions on Russia and reduced demand from European countries, which made Russian oil available at discounted rates.

The Indian government has defended its oil imports, stating that they are driven by national energy security and affordability concerns. Officials maintain that India’s position on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict remains independent and balanced, despite increasing scrutiny from international leaders.

As the geopolitical landscape continues to shift, the implications of Modi’s relationship with Trump and their discussions on energy policy could have lasting effects on India’s foreign relations and energy strategy.