Since the attack on Ukraine, the US and European countries have imposed various economic sanctions on Russia. In such a situation, despite pressure from America, India is constantly buying oil from Russia at a lower price.
Now amid these criticisms, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has clarified the reason for buying crude oil from Russia. He says that the Indian government’s stand on importing crude oil from Russia has been very honest.
Addressing the Indian community in Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said that every country wants to make the best deal for its citizens due to the increased oil and gas prices.
Jaishankar said, the per capita income of my country is 2000 dollars. These people cannot buy such expensive oil, so it is my moral duty to make the best deal for the people of my country.
He said, at this time oil prices are very high. Not only oil, gas prices have also increased tremendously. Many of Asia’s oil suppliers are moving to Europe because Europe is buying less oil and gas from Russia. Instead, it is buying more oil from Europe, the Middle East and other sources. This is exactly the situation today, every country will try to make the best deal for its citizens. At the same time, it will try to reduce the effect of increased oil and gas prices. We are doing the same thing.
Jaishankar said, India is not doing this by being defensive. We are very clear about our interests. The per capita income of my country is 2000 dollars. These people cannot buy expensive oil. So it is my moral duty to make sure that I get the best deal for them that I can.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said, I think once you clarify things honestly, people accept it, of course they do not appreciate it. Many countries including America are aware of India’s situation. The world has now accepted India’s position to buy crude oil from Russia amid the attack on Ukraine.
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar has already defended India’s move to buy crude from Russia on several public platforms.
In April this year, he said in the 2+2 ministerial talks in the US that the amount of oil that India buys from Russia in a month is probably less than the quantity that Europe buys from Russia in a day.
Ater Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February this year, India’s oil purchases from Russia have increased to a record level. According to the report of news agency Reuters, in the month of June, India bought about 9.5 lakh barrels of oil per day from Russia.
