Shashi Tharoor slams Trump for ‘speaking out of turn’ on India’s oil imports from Russia
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday rebutted the US President's claims that India will "significantly" cut Russian oil imports by the end of this year.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) October 24: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday hit out at US President Donald Trump for speaking “out of turn” on India’s decision to continue oil supply from Russia.
Tharoor’s sharp response
Tharoor was speaking to news agency ANI, when he said that New Delhi is not Washington’s mouthpiece. He asked Trump to show similar restraint.
He said, “I don't really think it's appropriate for Trump to be making announcements about India's decisions. I think India will make announcements about its decisions. We don't tell the world what Trump will do. I think Trump should not be telling the world what India will do.”
Trump's claim on Oil Imports
The Congress leader’s statement came following Wednesday (US time) regarding President Trump making a claim that India has pledged to slash its oil imports from Russia by the end of the year on assurances from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Trump said the reduction will take place gradually, noting that by the year’s end, imports would fall “down to almost nothing.”
He said, “India, as you know, told me that they would stop. It is a process; you can't just stop it. But by the end of the year, they will be down to almost nothing. That's a big thing, that is almost 40 per cent of the oil. India has been great. Spoke to Prime Minister Modi yesterday and they have been absolutely great."
Trump also said he would endeavor to convince China to follow suit. China and India are the largest purchasers of Russian crude oil.
Clarification from India
India, however, has refuted these claims, saying it had no such agreement and that its aim was to keep prices rational and stable in order to protect consumers.
Trump’s repeated claims
This was not the first time President Trump has made these claims. Not long after the US announced 50 per cent tariffs on Indian commodities, Trump kept saying that he had spoken with his “good friend” Prime Minister Narendra Modi who promised him New Delhi would not import oil from Moscow again.
He is also claiming that he has led to India and Pakistani ceasefire. He also claimed that India agreed to Pakistan's request after Operation Sindoor in May.
