new Delhi . Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday defended the purchase of cheap Russian oil by India. The defense of the ministers’ policy of buying cheap oil from Russia comes at a time when sanctions have been imposed on Moscow after a military attack on Ukraine.
At an event in Mumbai, Sitharaman said, “We have started procuring Russian oil and have at least 3 to 4 days’ supply. I will put my energy security and my country’s interest first. If the supply is at a discount. Available, so why shouldn’t I buy it?”
Meanwhile, Jaishankar said Europe has bought 15 per cent more oil and gas from Russia than a month ago.
The minister made this statement in the presence of British Foreign Minister Elizabeth Truss.
“I think it is natural for countries to go to the market and see what good deals are in store for their people,” Jaishankar said.
“If we wait two or three months and really look at who are the big buyers of Russian gas and oil, I suspect the list won’t be much different than it was before,” he said.
Responding to Jaishankar, Truss said Britain respects India’s decision to buy subsidized oil from Russia.
“India is a sovereign nation and I am not going to tell India what to do,” she said.
Truss and Jaishankar’s statements came after US Deputy National Security Adviser Dalip Singh warned that the US would not like to see an uptick in India’s imports from Russia.
—AnyTV News
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