On Thursday morning, headlines across India were dominated by a bold statement from former US President Donald Trump, who claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally assured him that India would stop buying oil from Russia. The comment, made during a press conference at the White House, stirred a political storm and drew sharp responses from both New Delhi and opposition leaders back home.

Trump said Modi had promised him earlier that day that India would soon end its energy trade with Russia — a major shift, if true, given that India is the second-largest buyer of Russian oil after China. “He’s a friend of mine. I wasn’t happy that India was buying oil, and he assured me today they won’t be doing that anymore,” Trump told reporters, adding that it “won’t happen overnight, but the process has started.”

The former president even joked about not wanting to hurt Modi’s image: “I don’t want to destroy his political career,” referencing US ambassador-designate Sergio Gor’s recent visit to India and the warm ties between the two leaders.

Trump’s remarks quickly triggered political ripples in India. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi accused Modi of being “frightened of Trump,” criticizing the government’s silence. Shiv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi also demanded the government publicly refute Trump’s claims.

Hours later, India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded, denying any recent conversation between Modi and Trump. “I’m not aware of any such call,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. He reiterated that India’s oil import decisions are based on national interest and aimed at protecting Indian consumers in a volatile global energy market.

Meanwhile, Russia also weighed in. Its ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, said Russian oil was “beneficial for the Indian economy” and emphasized that both countries make independent decisions.

As speculation continues, one thing is clear: Trump’s words have reignited a sensitive debate — and India is treading carefully.