Srinagar, March 8: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday criticised the recent decision by the United States to grant India a 30-day waiver to continue purchasing Russian oil, saying the development reflects a concerning dependence on external approvals.
Abdullah described the situation as unfortunate and said India should be capable of making independent decisions regarding its energy policies without relying on temporary exemptions from other countries.
“This is a tragedy. We are not dependent,” Abdullah said while reacting to the development.
His remarks came after the United States allowed India a limited 30-day waiver to purchase Russian oil amid concerns over global supply disruptions linked to tensions in West Asia.
According to US officials, the waiver was issued to help stabilize global oil supplies during the current geopolitical situation without providing significant economic benefit to Russia.
Abdullah compared the current situation with the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, recalling India’s position during negotiations related to the Indo-US civil nuclear agreement.
He said that at that time, Singh had clearly told the United States that India would make its own sovereign decisions even when Washington expressed reservations during the nuclear deal discussions.
The National Conference leader said India should continue to pursue an independent foreign and economic policy while safeguarding its national interests.
Energy security has become a key issue in recent weeks as global oil markets face uncertainty due to escalating tensions in West Asia and concerns about disruptions to supply routes.
India imports a significant portion of its crude oil requirements from overseas, making global developments in energy markets closely linked to domestic economic conditions. [KNT]
