Mr. Modi, when you allow the exclusion of women journalists from a public forum, you are telling every woman in India that you are too weak to stand up for them. In our country, women have the right to equal participation in every space. Your silence in the face of such discrimination exposes the emptiness of your slogans on Nari Shakti.

Mr. Modi, when you allow the exclusion of women journalists from a public forum, you are telling every woman in India that you are too weak to stand up for them. In our country, women have the right to equal participation in every space. Your silence in the face of such discrimination exposes the emptiness of your slogans on Nari Shakti.

Raghuram Rajan is arguing in bad faith. He is deliberately twisting facts to mislead. 👉 Fact: India was the only major economy where petrol and diesel prices were reduced after the Russia–Ukraine crisis in May 2022. In March 2022, crude oil spiked to US$137/barrel. But the Govt of India ensured that prices were not passed on to 1.4 billion Indians. Instead, it acted decisively: a) Oil PSUs absorbed losses—up to ₹10/litre in diesel, totaling ₹21,000 crores (US$2.5B) between Apr’22–Jan’23. b) Export tax imposed to prevent private refiners from profiteering by selling abroad. c) Mandatory domestic supply rules (50% petrol, 30% diesel of export volumes) ensured uninterrupted availability. d) Central & state tax cuts reduced fuel prices by ₹10/litre in May 2022. These steps show India stood with its citizens—not oligarchs—during global turmoil. India’s intervention also prevented oil from touching US$200/barrel, stabilising global inflation. 🔹 India has been the 4th largest refiner & exporter of petroleum products for decades, with 23 refineries supplying both domestic and global demand. 🔹 Around 70% of refined fuel stays within India. 🔹 Exports to the EU are long-standing (mainly diesel & jet fuel to Netherlands, France & Belgium), not a new phenomenon post-Ukraine war. Claims that India “laundered” Russian oil are false. Refining crude and exporting fuels is how global energy markets function. Europe, after banning Russian crude, turned to India for stability. That is not laundering—it is market resilience. In fact, refining margins, which are benchmarked globally, spiked briefly after the Russia–Ukraine crisis but quickly normalised. Russian crude discounts too have since fallen sharply. Hence, claims of super-normal profits by refiners are vastly exaggerated. Even Reliance’s SEZ refinery (built in 2006) is specifically meant for exports by design. And sanctions never banned refined products until the EU’s 18th package. Exports from India have in fact declined as domestic consumption has risen: •FY22 → 99.2 MMT •FY23 → 98.8 MMT •FY24 → 107 MMT •FY25 → 88.25 MMT Exports to EU: •FY22 → 12.6 MMT (US$8.8B) •FY23 → 16 MMT (US$15.6B) •FY24 → 24 MMT (US$19.2B) •FY25 → 21.1 MMT (US$15B) No dramatic shifts—same destinations, same trends. Rajan is obfuscating with wordplay, suggesting India compromise sovereignty in the garb of policy. The truth is the opposite: India protected its citizens, stabilised global markets, and strengthened sovereignty through energy security.