New Delhi: India on Thursday bluntly stated that the issue of purchase of crude oil from Russia is “not an India related issue at all” as its approach is guided by the nation’s energy security requirements, similar to that of "many other regions and countries" - pointing to the West.
To a question on the issue, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a briefing: “We have consistently maintained that our approach is guided by our energy security requirements.
"You would note that many regions and countries have taken policy decisions recently with a similar perspective. We would like to reiterate that this is not an India related issue at all,” he emphasised.
India has firmly pushed back against Western criticism over its purchase of Russian oil at discounted prices amid the Ukraine conflict, saying that the European countries should first look at their own purchases of Russian oil and gas, which far outstrips India’s own.
There had been a flurry of visits in April from Western countries to India, with the aim of asking India to curtail its purchase. However, India bluntly pointed to the Western heavy dependence on Russian oil and gas, and the fact that its own purchase of energy comes mostly from the Gulf countries and a large chunk from the US. (UNI)
