New Delhi: The Indian National Congress intensified its attack on the central government Saturday, labelling U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s assertion that Washington granted India "permission" to buy Russian oil as a historic "humiliation" and a sign of a "compromised" Prime Minister.

The opposition’s outcry follows a Fox Business interview in which Bessent characterised India as a "good actor" for adhering to previous U.S. requests to halt Russian imports, before noting that the U.S. had now provided "permission" for a 30-day window to purchase Russian crude.

"Permission? For India? A country of 1.4 billion people, waiting for Washington's approval," the Congress party posted on X. "This is the cost of a compromised Prime Minister."

The party’s statement further argued that the current administration’s silence on the matter undermines the nation’s foundational independence.

"India fought for freedom so that no foreign power could dictate terms to us," the statement read. "Yet today, under a weak Prime Minister, the US is openly talking about giving India 'permission'. This is not diplomacy. This is humiliation. Indians are not actors in someone else's script. PM Modi, your silence on this statement is deafening. The people of India deserve an explanation."

The geopolitical friction stems from a temporary waiver issued by Washington on Thursday. The move aims to stabilise global energy markets after the conflict in West Asia, triggered by the Feb. 28 killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, led to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. India traditionally relies on that corridor for 40% of its oil imports.

Despite the political firestorm, government officials maintained that India's energy security remains intact. Sources indicate that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is reviewing supply levels twice daily and that domestic stocks are being replenished at a steady rate.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri sought to dismiss concerns on Friday, asserting that fuel remains both available and affordable. "Our priority is to ensure the availability of affordable and sustainable fuel for our citizens, and we are doing it comfortably," Puri posted on X. "There is no shortage of energy in India, and there is no cause of worry for our energy consumers."

The conflict, which has now entered its eighth day, continues to disrupt global shipping as Tehran retaliates with strikes against Israeli assets and U.S. military installations across the region.

With inputs from ANI