Congress jabs Union Govt as US passes Russia sanctions bill
The Congress on Thursday took a swipe at the Modi Government after the US House of Representatives passed a bill that would authorise President Donald Trump to impose steep tariffs on Russia’s trading partners in oil and gas, saying appeasement has never paid and will never pay.
The Opposition party also demanded that the Government clarify its stance on the issue at the earliest, and ensure India’s energy security is not sacrificed.
The Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, passed by the US Senate last month, was approved by the House in a 262-159 vote on Wednesday and will now go to Trump to be signed into law.
The bill seeks to impose sanctions not only on Russia’s leadership and energy sector, but also on the “shadow fleet” of vessels that enable Moscow to evade sanctions on oil deliveries.
It also seeks to authorise Trump to impose stiff tariffs on China, India and other countries to reduce their dependence on Russian oil and gas, as well as additional sanctions on Iran.
Reacting to the passage of the bill, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said on X, “Appeasement has never paid and will never pay.”
Congress general secretary, in-charge organisation, KC Venugopal, also targeted the Government.
“Will the PM find the guts to stand up to the US’ latest Senate resolution? Will India’s foreign policy and energy sovereignty be controlled from Washington? The PM was boasting that the BRICS Joint Declaration was a symbol of the world trusting India, but soon after, we are seeing such aggressive bullying from a strategic partner,” he said on X.
“Just this week, we saw the Centre bow to US pressure and impose MDR on UPI transactions, and now we are facing renewed pressure on oil purchases. Given the Compromised PM’s track record, we are likely to see the Centre toe the US’ line and surrender to Washington,” Venugopal said.
“We demand that the Modi Government clarify its stance on this at the earliest, and ensure India’s energy security is not sacrificed,” he added.
The Ministry of External Affairs said it will take all necessary steps to protect its economic interests and ensure energy security after the US House of Representatives cleared the bill.
The MEA said the Indian side is monitoring further developments in the matter following the passage of the Act in the US Congress.
Besides 203 Republicans, 58 Democrats and one Independent voted in favour of the legislation. Seven Republicans and 152 Democrats opposed it.
Democratic opposition largely centred around the tariff authorities provided to Trump.
The bill is named after Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who died in July after spending more than a year building support for it.
“China and India, you better buy your oil and gas somewhere else,” Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal told reporters after the passage of the bill.
