NEW DELHI: On Tuesday, the Congress hit out at Prime Minister Narenda Modi over the US ending waivers that allowed India to buy Iranian oil without facing sanctions. The party alleged that PM Modi has asked oil companies not to increase the prices of petrol and diesel till May 23, when the results of the ongoing nation election will be declared. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted in Hindi "Why is Modi ji, who keeps boasting about his bravery everyday, silent? Modi ji is not telling the country that in order to dupe people and garner votes, he has directed oil companies not to increase the prices till May 23,".

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He said in a series of tweets "There is preparation to increase the prices of petrol-diesel by Rs. 5-10 on the evening of May 23. But the country will not be duped by this,". "Crude oil prices are touching the sky -- highest in six months. The Rupee has tumbled to the ground, USD 1=Rs. 69.61. The US has put sanctions on import of crude oil from Iran," Mr Surjewala said. The Congress leader said PM Modi is sitting like a mute spectator" over the country's oil needs and security.

To be noted that washington on Monday announced all Iran sanction waivers would end by May, pressuring importers to stop buying from Tehran. The US demanded that buyers of Iranian oil stop purchases by May 1 or face sanctions, ending six months of waivers which allowed Iran's eight biggest buyers, most of them in Asia, to continue importing limited volumes. India, Iran's biggest oil client after China, has almost halved its Iran oil purchase since November. That was when Washington granted significant reduction exceptions from sanctions to countries, including India.

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India said it is adequately prepared to deal with the impact of the waivers being ended. "The government has noted the announcement by the US government to discontinue the Significant Reduction Exemption to all purchasers of crude oil from Iran," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. "We are adequately prepared to deal with the impact of this decision," Mr Kumar said.