'No Modi-Trump call': India says diversifying oil sources to protect national interests

Trump claims Modi assured him India won't buy Russian oil

- SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday asserted that its energy import decisions are driven solely by national interest and the need to secure affordable supplies, hours after US President Donald Trump claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him of halting Russian crude oil purchases.

Responding to Trumps remarks, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India continues to “broad-base and diversify” its energy sources to suit market conditions and safeguard consumer interests. “Ensuring stable energy prices and secured supplies have been the twin goals of our energy policy,” Jaiswal stated.

"This includes broadening our energy sourcing and diversifying as appropriate to meet market conditions." When asked specifically about Trump's claim that Modi made the assurance to him on Wednesday, Jaiswal said he was not aware of any such phone conversation. He did not directly answer questions on whether Modi had assured Trump that India would stop buying Russian energy.

Trump told reporters in Washington that Modi had conveyed India's decision to stop purchasing Russian oil. "He (Modi) has assured me there will be no oil purchases from Russia," the US president said, adding that while India "can't do it immediately, the process of reducing imports had begun. "It's a little bit of a process, but the process is going to be over soon," he added.