"For Rahul Gandhi and family, nation never comes first": CR Kesavan

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], October 16 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Spokesperson CR Kesavan on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his remarks concerning US President Donald Trump's claims on India's Russian oil imports, accusing the Congress leader of putting personal politics above national interest.
Kesavan said the national interest has always been a top priority for the BJP-led government, contrasting it with what he termed the Congress party's "shameful record" of compromising on matters of national importance.
"..National interest is paramount and India's welfare comes first and foremost, unlike erstwhile Congress regimes which have a shameful record...", Kesavan told ANI.
Citing historical examples, the BJP spokesperson criticised the Congress party for what he called strategic missteps, including internationalising the Kashmir issue, forfeiting India's claim to a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in favour of China, and flawed economic policies.
"They surrendered to foreign pressures and sold out India's interests...In the past, we had weak foreign policies; it was Nehru who internationalised the Kashmir issue...He forfeited the UNSC permanent seat in favour of China...All the blunders of the Congress party have been corrected by PM Narendra Modi..." Kesavan added.
Targeting Rahul Gandhi directly, Kesavan alleged, "For Rahul Gandhi and family, the nation never comes first...",
The statement came after Rahul Gandhi had earlier in the day alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "frightened" of US President Donald Trump, following the US President's claim that India had assured him of stopping the purchase of oil from Russia.
Rahul Gandhi objected to Donald Trump's claim and listed allegations against the Union Government to bolster his point."PM Modi is frightened of Trump," Rahul Gandhi said as he listed recent incidents, "1. (PM Modi) Allows Trump to decide and announce that India will not buy Russian oil. 2. Keeps sending congratulatory messages despite repeated snubs. 3. Cancelled the Finance Minister's visit to America. 4. Skipped Sharm el-Sheikh. 5. Doesn't contradict him on Operation Sindoor," he posted on X.
https://x.com/RahulGandhi/status/1978669002798055695
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh joined the chorus, questioning PM Modi's silence as he alleged that PM has "outsourced key decisions to America." Noting Donald Trump's repeated claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, Jairam Ramesh questioned the PM's silence.
"At 5:37 PM Indian Standard Time on May 10, 2025, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was the very first to announce that India had halted Operation Sindoor. Subsequently, President Trump has claimed 51 times in five different countries that he intervened to stop Operation Sindoor by using tariffs and trade as his means of pressure. Yet our PM kept silent," he said.
This comes after the US President on Wednesday (local time) said that PM Modi had assured him that India would stop purchasing oil from Russia, describing it as "a big step" in efforts to increase global pressure on Moscow. Trump made the remarks during a joint news conference with FBI Director Kash Patel at the Oval Office, where the two highlighted the administration's efforts to curb violent crime.
Responding to ANI's question on whether he viewed India as a reliable partner, Trump said, "Yeah, sure. He's (PM Narendra Modi) a friend of mine. We have a great relationship...I was not happy that India was buying oil. And he assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That's a big stop. Now we've got to get China to do the same thing."
Trump also criticised India's previous oil imports from Russia, stating, "We were not happy with him buying oil from Russia, because that lets Russia continue on with this ridiculous war, where they've lost a million and a half people, by the way. Russia has lost a million and a half people, soldiers mostly."
Earlier, India had defended its oil imports from Moscow as essential for economic stability, even as Washington continued to urge New Delhi to diversify its energy sources. Donald Trump had levied additional tariffs of 25 per cent on Indian goods, claiming that India's imports of Russian oil, directly or indirectly, pose an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the United States. India has also maintained that the India-Pakistan ceasefire was agreed between both countries' Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) and no other country had any part in it. (ANI)