US President Donald Trump participated in the Diwali celebrations at the White House on Tuesday and extended his warm greetings to the people of India and the Indian Americans on the occasion.
Speaking at the event, Trump said he spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was reassured that India would reduce its purchase of oil from Russia.
Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra, FBI chief Kash Patel, intelligence head Tulsi Gabbard, new US envoy to India Sergio Gor and a few Indian American business leaders were also present at the event.
"Let me extend our warmest wishes to the people of India. I just spoke to your Prime Minister today. Had a great conversation. We talked about trade... He's very interested in that,” Trump said.
Calling Modi a “great person” and a “great friend”, Trump said the prime minister wants to see the war between Russia and Ukraine to end.
He’s not going to buy much oil from Russia. He wants to see that war end as much as I do. He wants to see the war between Russia and Ukraine to end. They’re not going to be buying too much oil. So they’ve cut it way back, and they’re continuing to cut it way back…," said the President.
There has been no official confirmation from the Indian government on the telephonic conversation between Modi and Trump.
Last week, Trump had made a similar claim, saying the prime minister had spoken to him and assured that India would stop buying Russian oil. He repeated the claim earlier this week, though New Delhi has dismissed any such conversation between the two leaders.
On Monday, trump further warned that India will continue to pay “massive” tariffs on its goods to the US if New Delhi doesn’t curb the Russian oil purchase. The US has accused New Delhi of funding Moscow's war machine through the oil purchase and imposed a 25 per cent punitive tariff, taking the total levy on Indian goods to the US to 50 per cent.
India and China are the top buyers of Russian seaborne crude exports, taking advantage of the discounted prices Russia has been forced to accept after European buyers shunned purchases.
Trump’s claims have also sparked a political firestorm in India with the opposition Congress accusing the Modi government of allowing Washington to decide its foreign policy.
