RSS leader Ram Madhav on Friday clarified his earlier comments on Russian oil imports and said that India had not agreed to stop importing oil from Moscow.
The RSS leader also said that New Delhi “strongly” protested against the 50 per cent reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US on India last year.
Madhav’s remarks came in response to his speech at the Hudson Institute’s New India Conference in Washington, DC.
In a post on X, Madhav explained: “What I said was wrong. India did not agree to stop importing oil from Russia at any time. I also strongly protested against the imposition of 50 percent tariffs. I was trying to present a limited view to other members of the committee. But this is actually not true.”
At the event held in Washington, Ram Madhav noted that New Delhi had done enough to ensure good relations with the United States. He pointed to examples such as India agreeing to stop buying oil from Iran and Russia, apart from agreeing to reciprocal tariffs imposed by Washington.
While talking about bilateral relations, he said: “Where exactly is India not doing enough?”
He was speaking at a panel that also included US diplomat Kurt Campbell and Elizabeth Threlkeld, deputy director of the South Asia Program at the Stimson Center.
“We (India) agreed to stop buying oil from Iran. We agreed to stop buying oil from Russia despite strong criticism from our opposition. We agreed to a 50 percent tariff, and the agreement means we did not say anything. Our patience has run out,” Madhav told the committee.
“Today, in the new trade deal, we agreed to an 18 percent tariff, which is higher than it was before. So, where does India fall behind on that? What are those issues where India is not doing enough (to work with America)?” He added.
His previous statements about India halting Russian oil imports were met with opposition from Congress.
