Farooq Abdullah Criticizes US Waiver on Russian Oil for India

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah criticizes the US for allowing Indian refiners to buy Russian oil, insisting India should independently decide its own course. He recalls a similar situation during Manmohan Singh's tenure where he emphasized India's autonomy in decision-making.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has publicly criticized the Center's decision to accept a US-issued waiver permitting Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil. Abdullah emphasized that India should independently determine its future directions, free from external influence.

Abdullah highlighted the importance of national independence by referencing past instances where foreign entities attempted to sway India's decisions. He recalled former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's stance during a similar situation, where Singh stressed that India would make decisions based on its own interests.

The waiver, granted due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, has enabled India to continue importing Russian oil. Abdullah's comments echo a call for a more autonomous and self-reliant approach to national policy-making.

(With inputs from agencies.)