Srinagar, March 7, 2026 : Farooq Abdullah, president of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, on Saturday criticised the Centre over the United States’ waiver allowing India to purchase Russian oil, asserting that India should take independent decisions without external influence.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Abdullah said that a sovereign nation must determine its own course of action in matters of economic and foreign policy.
“We are not dependent. The tragedy is I do not know why they are making us dependent. It is a question of the independence of this country,” he said.
The veteran leader stressed that India should decide what is best for its interests, rather than allowing other countries to influence its decisions.
Referring to a past instance during the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Abdullah recalled that the United States had earlier tried to pressure India during negotiations over the India–United States Civil Nuclear Agreement.
“You know what Singh said? He said it is a decision of India and India will make its own decision. We will do what is good for the country,” Abdullah said while highlighting the importance of maintaining independent policy choices.
Meanwhile, India has confirmed that it will continue importing Russian oil, following a temporary waiver granted by the United States amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and the war in the Middle East.
Abdullah reiterated that national decisions must always prioritise India’s sovereignty and long-term interests, stressing that the country should remain firm in shaping its own policies.
