Highlights:
- Mary Millben defends PM Modi against Rahul Gandhi’s “afraid of Trump” remark.
- Singer calls Gandhi’s leadership “lacking acumen.”
- MEA rejects Trump’s claim of a Modi-Trump oil conversation.
- Gandhi accuses Modi of letting the US dictate India’s oil policy.
Russia supports India’s independent energy stance. Singer and performer Mary Millben, known for her vocal admiration of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, launched a sharp rebuke at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on social media. Responding to Gandhi’s claim that Modi was “frightened of Trump,” Millben said that Modi was not afraid but rather “strategic” in his diplomatic engagement with the United States.
“You are wrong, Rahul Gandhi. PM Narendra Modi is not afraid of President Trump. PM Modi understands the long game, and his diplomacy with the US is strategic,” she wrote on X. “Just as @POTUS will always put America’s interests first, so will PM Modi do what is best for India.”
Millben, who has performed the Indian national anthem at high-profile diaspora events, went further in her criticism. “I don’t expect you to understand this type of leadership because you don’t possess the acumen to be the PM of India. Best to return to your ‘I hate India’ tour that has an audience of one—you,” she added.
Gandhi’s accusations against Modi
Rahul Gandhi’s remarks came after former US President Donald Trump claimed that Modi had promised to stop importing Russian oil. Gandhi accused the prime minister of “allowing the US to dictate India’s policy,” citing Modi’s congratulatory messages to Trump on the Gaza peace deal and his silence over Trump’s statements regarding Operation Sindoor. He alleged that Modi had compromised India’s sovereignty in his dealings with Washington.
Trump’s claim and India’s response
Earlier this week, Trump said Modi had assured him over the phone that India would “stop buying oil from Russia,” describing it as “a big step” in his campaign to isolate Moscow over the Ukraine war. However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) swiftly rejected the claim, clarifying that no such call took place.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that India’s energy policy is driven by the goal of ensuring stable prices and secure supplies. “Our import policies are guided entirely by the objective of safeguarding Indian consumers,” he said.
