Senior Congress Leader K.C. Venugopal. File.
| Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
The Congress on Thursday (September 17, 2026) demanded that the Narendra Modi government make its position clear on the latest move in the U.S. to impose steep tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, with the party’s general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal asking whether India’s foreign policy and energy security would be “controlled from Washington”.
His remarks came after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by a vote of 262-159, clearing the way for American President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that continue to purchase Russian oil and gas. The legislation now awaits Mr. Trump’s signature.
“Will the PM find the guts to stand up to the U.S.’ latest Senate resolution? Will India’s foreign policy and energy sovereignty be controlled from Washington?” Mr. Venugopal said in a post on social media platform X.
The government has been projecting the recently concluded BRICS Summit’s joint declaration as a symbol of the world’s trust in India, but was now facing “aggressive bullying from a strategic partner”, he said.
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“Given the compromised PM’s track record, we are likely to see the Centre toe the U.S.’ line and surrender to Washington. We demand that the Modi government clarify its stance on this at the earliest, and ensure India’s energy security is not sacrificed,” Mr. Venugopal said.
His colleague and party general secretary Randeep Surjewala described the U.S.’s move as an “affront to Indian sovereignty” and questioned whether the government would “speak for the nation”.
Mr. Surjewala cited remarks by Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal after the House voted that India and China should “buy their oil and gas somewhere else”.
The government had repeatedly compromised India’s interests in dealing with the U.S., the Congress leader alleged, and questioned why New Delhi should not be free to decide from whom it buys crude oil.
“Our foreign policy and sovereignty cannot be bartered at the altar of our friendship with the United States. National interests cannot be mortgaged at the altar of event management by a weak-kneed BJP govt.,” Mr. Surjewala said on social media platform X.
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh simply said: “Appeasement has never paid and will never pay.”
The Congress’s attack came as the government sought to reassure the country that it would protect its economic and energy interests. India is monitoring developments following the passage of the legislation and remained “firmly committed” to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
Published – September 17, 2026 09:20 pm IST
