New Delhi [India], April 25 (ANI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday lambasted senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Ram Madhav over his remarks made during a panel discussion in the United States, terming them as reflective of the organisation's 'true nature.'

Gandhi accused the RSS of being 'Rashtriya Surrender Sangh' and called the Sangh 'farzi'.

Sharing an X post, Rahul Gandhi wrote, 'Rashtriya Surrender Sangh. Farzi nationalism in Nagpur. Pure servility in the USA. Ram Madhav has only revealed the Sangh's true nature.'

https://x.com/RahulGandhi/status/2047930692403896690

Congress leader's remarks came a day after Ram Madhav participated in a panel discussion in Washington DC alongside Amb Kurt Campbell and Elizabeth Threlkeld at the Hudson Institute's New India Conference on 'New Paths Forward for U.S.-India Relations.'

During the discussion, Ram Madhav raised a question on India's energy and trade decisions, saying that the country agreed to stop buying oil from Iran and Russia despite so much criticism from the opposition.

'India agreed to stop buying oil from Iran. We agreed to stop buying oil from Russia despite so much criticism from our opposition. India agreed to a 50% tariff without saying too much. So where exactly is India not doing enough to work with America?' he said during the discussion.

Following criticism over his remarks, Ram Madhav later issued a clarification, adding that what he said during the panel discussion was 'factually incorrect'.

https://x.com/rammadhav_/status/2047596932068167704

He said, 'What I said was wrong. India didn't agree to stopping import of oil from Russia anytime. Also, it vigorously protested the 50 per cent tariff imposition. I was trying to make a limited counterpoint to the other panellist. But factually incorrect. My apologies.'

Earlier, the government clarified that India is in a very comfortable position in Crude oil, Oil products and LPG in terms of our current stock. Sources said that India would ramp up supplies from other parts of the geography and make up any supply crunch from the Strait of Hormuz.

Sources stated that India has been buying crude oil from Russia since 2022. In 2022, India imported 0.2 per cent of its total imports from Russia, while in February, it imported 20 per cent of its total imports from Russia.

About 40 per cent of India's crude moves through the Strait of Hormuz, and 60 per cent of the rest of the crude comes from other sources. (ANI)