https://sputniknews.in/20250714/indias-not-a-client-state---bjp-leader-on-us-senators-threats-against-india-9442641.html
India's Not a Client State - BJP Leader on US Senator's Threats Against India
India's Not a Client State - BJP Leader on US Senator's Threats Against India
Sputnik India
A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader has come down heavily on GOP Senator Lindsey Graham for repeatedly threatening India with legislative action, which includes levying a 500% tariff on Indian imports entering the US
2025-07-14T17:27+0530
2025-07-14T17:27+0530
2025-07-14T17:27+0530
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A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician Savio Rodrigues has come down heavily on GOP Senator Lindsey Graham for repeatedly threatening India with legislative action, which includes levying a 500% tariff on Indian imports entering the US, over purchases of Russian crude.He echoed the official line that India would continue to act in its "national interest", which involves procuring affordable energy for its citizens.On several occasions, India's Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has fended off western criticism for buying Russian oil. Noting that Russian oil was never under "global sanctions", Puri said that India's decision to purchase Russian crude has only helped to stabilise global markets and saved it from "chaos".Trump has said that he's looking at the bill "strongly" and whether the bill became a law or not was totally his call. Significantly, as revealed by Graham, the bill also has a provision for a waiver.In an interview with American broadcaster NBC News on Sunday, Graham once again brandished his proposed Russia sanctions bill, arguing that the proposed legislation would prove to be a "turning point" to pile up pressure on Russia to negotiate an end to the Ukraine Conflict. The Republican Senator, who claims to have Trump's backing for the law, once again criticised India, China and Brazil, saying that they were about to get hurt "big time".Last week, Graham, along with the bill's Democrat co-sponsor Richard Blumenthal, attended the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome. Blumenthal said in a social media post that the proposed legislation would impose "bone-crushing sanctions" on China, India and Brazil for buying Russian energy.On Sunday, Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews that he would be sending Patriot Missile Systems to Ukraine which they "desperately need", marking a U-turn on his administration's policy of sending weapons to Ukraine.Significantly, Axios also reported that Trump will announce a new plan to arm Ukraine on Monday, which possibly entails the delivery of offensive weapons.
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India's Not a Client State - BJP Leader on US Senator's Threats Against India
EAM S Jaishankar has said that India's in touch with US Senator Lindsey Graham on the proposed Russia sanctions bill. "Our concerns and our interests in energy, security have been made conversant to him. So, we'll then have to cross that bridge when we come to it, if we come to it," EAM said.
A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician Savio Rodrigues has come down heavily on GOP Senator Lindsey Graham for repeatedly threatening India with legislative action, which includes levying a 500% tariff on Indian imports entering the US, over purchases of Russian crude.
"Senator Lindsey Graham’s reckless remarks reflect the outdated arrogance of a unipolar world that no longer exists," BJP's Rodrigues told Sputnik India.
He echoed the official line that India would continue to act in its "national interest", which involves procuring affordable energy for its citizens.
"We buy Russian oil not to please or provoke anyone — but to ensure affordable energy for our 1.4 billion citizens. If Senator Graham thinks a 500% tariff will intimidate India, he is severely misreading today’s geopolitical reality," the ruling party politician commented.
On several occasions,
India's Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has fended off western criticism for buying Russian oil. Noting that Russian oil was never under "global sanctions", Puri said that India's decision to purchase Russian crude has only
helped to stabilise global markets and saved it from "chaos".
Further, Rodrigues warned that US President Donald Trump would be taking a "misstep" against India if he backed the bill in its present form.
Trump has said that he's looking at the bill "strongly" and whether the bill became a law or not was totally his call. Significantly, as revealed by Graham, the bill also has a provision for a waiver.
"President Trump, a pragmatic leader, knows India is not a country to be threatened — but a strategic partner to be respected... India is not a client state. We are a sovereign nation with a spine — and we will not be bullied into surrendering our economic freedom," Rodrigues asserted.
In an interview with American broadcaster NBC News on Sunday, Graham once again brandished his proposed Russia sanctions bill, arguing that the proposed legislation would prove to be a "turning point" to pile up pressure on Russia to negotiate an end to the Ukraine Conflict. The Republican Senator, who claims to have Trump's backing for the law, once again criticised India, China and Brazil, saying that they were about to get hurt "big time".
"The big offender here is India, China and Brazil. India buys oil from Russia, cheap and resells it. That's despicable. I've talked to President Trump," said Graham, who claims to have the bipartisan backing of 85 senators to pass the Bill in the Senate in the August recess.
Last week, Graham, along with the bill's Democrat co-sponsor Richard Blumenthal, attended the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome. Blumenthal said in a social media post that the proposed legislation would impose "bone-crushing sanctions" on China, India and Brazil for buying Russian energy.
On Sunday, Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews that he would be sending Patriot Missile Systems to Ukraine which they "desperately need", marking a U-turn on his administration's policy of sending weapons to Ukraine.
Significantly, Axios also reported that Trump will announce a new plan to arm Ukraine on Monday, which possibly entails the delivery of offensive weapons.
