Trump, transition, and cancel culture

The looming shadow of the disruptive decisions made by the new US President Donald Trump and the much-anticipated meeting of the Indian Prime Minister with him this week echoed throughout the opening of India Energy Week (IEW).

- SHREYA JAI & SUBHAYAN CHAKRABORTY

Trumpian energy policies and just energy transition took centre stage in panel discussions and coffee-break chats.

"I had the great privilege of knowing Trump when he was not the president. I also lived in the Trump World Tower. He used to visit us every year and have an annual get-together. I have watched the events unfold with more than a sense of interest," said Hardeep Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, at the first panel discussion of the event.

Reacting to the impact of President Trump's energy policies, Puri said some aspects of them are "music to my ears".

"When the new administration says more energy should come to the market and prices should come down, as a line minister and an Indian, I am happy," Puri said. He added that he would be surprised if sourcing more energy from the US didn't come up in the Modi-Trump meeting.