*India has hit back at criticism over its purchase of Russian oil atdiscounted rates with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar drawing asimilarity with Europe buying Russian gas to fulfil its needs despitefighting a war in Ukraine.*
S Jaishankar made these remarks at the GLOBSEC 2022 Bratislava Forum beingheld in Slovakia on the topic ‘Taking Friendship to the Next Level: Alliesin the Indo-Pacific Region’.
He said that it is important to understand how the Ukraine conflict isimpacting the developing countries.
Responding to a question on whether India’s oil imports from Russia are notfunding the ongoing Ukraine war, S Jaishankar said, “Look I don’t want tosound argumentative. If India funding Russia oil is funding the war… Tellme then buying Russian gas is not funding the war? It’s only Indian moneyand Russian oil coming to India funding the war and not Russia’s gas comingto Europe not funding? Let’s be a little even-handed.”
Jaishankar lamented that the packages of sanctions imposed by the EuropeanUnion are imposed keeping in mind the interest of certain European nations.
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“Europe is buying oil, Europe is buying gas…new package of sanctions, it isdesigned in a way that consideration has been given to the welfare of thepopulation, pipeline have carve-outs… if you can be considerate toyourself, you can be considerate to other people. If Europe says, if wehave to manage it in a way impact on the economy is not traumatic, thatfreedom should exist for other people as well,” he said.
India’s External Affairs Minister also spoke on how the increase of Indianoil purchases is being played up without giving consideration to the lowbase of the previous imports.
“If countries from the West, Europe, US are so concerned why do they notallow Iranian oil to come to the market, why do they not allow Venezuelanoil to come to the market,” he added.
