The man with 56-inch chest has become a coward and a compromiser: Congress

(Fast Mail News):-- Congress intensified its attacks on the Modi government on Saturday by citing a recent statement from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, accusing it of being "cowardly and compromise-prone."

Party general secretary Jairam Ramesh shared a video clip from an interview Bessent gave to 'Fox News' (actually Fox Business), in which he stated that India had stopped buying oil from Russia at America's behest, but due to a global shortage in oil availability, India has now been "permitted" to buy oil from Russia for the time being.

Ramesh posted on 'X': "The US Treasury Secretary has given a certificate to the Modi government for honestly following President Trump's orders."

He alleged: "What more needs to be said about how much of a coward and compromiser the leader who calls himself having a '56-inch chest' has become?"

Context (for clarity):This refers to a March 6, 2026, interview where US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent discussed a temporary 30-day US waiver allowing India to purchase already-loaded sanctioned Russian oil (stranded at sea) to ease global supply pressures amid West Asia conflicts (e.g., involving Iran).

Bessent praised India as "good actors" for previously complying with US requests to halt such purchases (and planning to switch to US oil), but used phrasing like "we have given them permission" — which opposition parties in India, like Congress, seized on to criticize Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy independence and his famous "56-inch chest" slogan symbolizing strong leadership.

The opposition portrays this as India bowing to US (Trump administration) pressure on energy decisions.

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