Dependence on external approvals to buy Russian oil concerning: NC President

Srinagar, Mar 7: 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, as per KNT.  “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.