https://sputniknews.in/20260812/rss-ally-calls-for-retaliatory-steps-against-us-over-proposed-tariffs-on-russian-oil-11929236.html
RSS Ally Calls for Retaliatory Steps Against US Over Proposed Tariffs on Russian Oil
RSS Ally Calls for Retaliatory Steps Against US Over Proposed Tariffs on Russian Oil
Sputnik India
The US Senate passed a bill seeking to impose a 100% tariff on top five buyers of Russian energy by an 86-11 majority
2026-08-12T12:26+0530
2026-08-12T12:26+0530
2026-08-12T12:26+0530
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Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), an ally of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to put on hold a recent bill passed in Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian parliament) which permits banks and other service providers to impose a cess on UPI transactions. In a statement shared with Sputnik on Wednesday, SJM co-convenbor Dr Ashwani Mahajan explained that imposing a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), as mandated by the recently cleared Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, would allow Visa and Mastercard to "regain a foothold in India".The RSS ally has also urged the government to withdraw Press Note 3 (2026), which removes inventory restrictions on American-owned E-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart (owned by Walmart). It said that the concessions extended to the e-commerce companies would work against the interest of Indian exporters.The Indian economic advocacy group asserted that trade talks between two sovereign nations must take place on the basis of "mutual respect, reciprocity and equality" and not at gunpoint.It said that the proposed legislation empowering the American president to impose 100% tariff on top five buyers of Russian energy would be used as a "pressure tactic" by the US in the ongoing trade talks, adding that trade talks couldn't take place "at gunpoint".SJM said that it "fully supports" the Indian government's stance on the purchase of Russian crude. India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has repeatedly stated that Delhi's energy sourcing decisions are predicated on securing energy needs of 1.4 billion Indians as well as diversifcation of supplies.It described the Ukraine conflict as a "power tussle" between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and Russia, saying western nations were using oil sanctions as a strategy to achieve the strategic goal of Ukraine's NATO membership.Further, the Indian group has appealed to Indian public to boycott American products and companies.
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RSS Ally Calls for Retaliatory Steps Against US Over Proposed Tariffs on Russian Oil
Last week, the US Senate passed a bill seeking to impose a 100% tariff on top five buyers of Russian energy by an 86-11 majority. India's Russian crude imports hit a record high in July, with Russian barrels accounting for over half of India's overall crude imports for the first time in history.
Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM), an ally of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to put on hold a recent bill passed in Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian parliament) which permits banks and other service providers to impose a cess on UPI transactions.
In a statement shared with Sputnik on Wednesday,
SJM co-convenbor Dr Ashwani Mahajan explained that imposing a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), as mandated by the recently cleared Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, would allow
Visa and
Mastercard to "
regain a foothold in India".
"Though, government maintains that UPI transaction for people at large, would continue to remain free of charges, permitting Banks and other notified electronic payment providers to impose Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), would undoubtedly shift the balance in favour of Global players like Master Card/ Visa card," SJM said.
The RSS ally has also urged the government to withdraw Press Note 3 (2026), which removes inventory restrictions on American-owned E-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart (owned by Walmart). It said that the concessions extended to the e-commerce companies would work against the interest of Indian exporters.
SJM expressed its displeasure over these legislative matters, arguing that they were pushed through as "unnecessary goodwill gestures" to facilitate the India-US interim bilateral trade agreement (BTA), currently under negotiation.
The Indian economic advocacy group asserted that trade talks between two sovereign nations must take place on the basis of "mutual respect, reciprocity and equality" and not at gunpoint.
It said that the proposed legislation empowering the American president to impose 100% tariff on top five buyers of
Russian energy would be used as a "pressure tactic" by the US in the ongoing trade talks, adding that trade talks couldn't take place "at gunpoint".
SJM said that it "fully supports" the Indian government's stance on the purchase of Russian crude. India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has repeatedly stated that Delhi's energy sourcing decisions are predicated on securing energy needs of 1.4 billion Indians as well as diversifcation of supplies.
"India has repeatedly clarified that no third country can dictate our sovereign right to procure energy from legitimate international markets. Further, the RSS ally has appealed to the Indian public to boycott American products and companies operating in India," SJM stated.
It described the Ukraine conflict as a "power tussle" between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and Russia, saying western nations were using oil sanctions as a strategy to achieve the strategic goal of Ukraine's NATO membership.
Further, the Indian group has appealed to Indian public to boycott American products and companies.
"Boycott the products like Pepsi and Coke companies, social media and E-Commerce platforms of US companies, to start with. If US continues to act against India’s interests, this boycott can be extended to services of other US giants as well," SJM said.
