Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday delivered a stinging rebuke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing an audio clip of US President Donald Trump to question the government's stance on Russian oil imports. Speaking to reporters, Kharge mocked Modi's response to Trump's pressure as overly submissive, urging the PM to stand firm on India's energy choices.

In the clip, Trump, aboard Air Force One, praised Modi as a "very good man" while claiming India slashed its Russian crude purchases to appease him following US tariffs on Indian exports last year. "I've heard Trump's audio on Modi. PM Modi knew I wasn't happy, so he cut Russian oil just to make me happy," Kharge paraphrased, invoking the famous Bollywood villain line "Mogambo khush hua" to highlight what he called unnecessary deference.

Kharge didn't stop there, slamming Trump’s aggressive foreign policy tactics—such as the arrest of Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro—as echoing "expansionist" leaders like Hitler and Mussolini, whose overreach eventually crumbled. He questioned why Modi would "bend before Trump," insisting India's foreign policy must prioritize national sovereignty over pleasing foreign powers.

This marks another instance of Trump linking tariffs to India's Russian oil buys, which the US views as indirectly supporting Russia's war in Ukraine. Trump boasted that India had already reduced imports significantly, warning of even higher duties if New Delhi doesn't comply further. India, however, continues sourcing discounted Russian crude—now about 40% of its needs—to shield consumers from soaring fuel prices amid global volatility.

The spat underscores friction in India-US ties during Trump's second term. While strategic partnerships deepen on defense and tech, energy independence remains a flashpoint. Kharge's comments come amid domestic political heat, with opposition parties accusing the BJP of compromising autonomy for optics ahead of key state elections.

Russia's discounted oil has saved India billions since the Ukraine invasion, keeping inflation in check despite Western sanctions pressure. Past episodes saw New Delhi diversify suppliers without fully halting Russian flows, blending economic pragmatism with diplomacy. As Trump ramps up "America First" measures, analysts watch if tariffs will force a sharper pivot—or spark retaliation in areas like US farm exports to India.