MoS Meenakashi Lekhi answered a question in Rajya Sabha.
New Delhi:
The government said on Thursday it was taking all steps to secure crude supplies and reduce the risk of dependence on a single region.
Responding to a question, External Affairs Minister Meenakashi Lekhi said in the Rajya Sabha that crude oil imports are carried out by Indian Oil Corporation and refined from different sources by companies in the public and private sectors through business-to-business arrangements.
“Oil PSUs have diversified their oil baskets and sourced crude from countries located in various geographic locations such as the Middle East, Eurasia, North America, South America,” she said.
“The Indian government is taking all measures to ensure the security of crude oil supply and reduce the risk of dependence on crude oil from a single region,” she added.
India has been stepping up its purchases of crude oil from Russia despite growing unease among some Western countries over Moscow’s military incursion into Ukraine.
The Gulf region has long been a reliable source of energy for India.
Asked whether the US had protested India’s purchase of crude oil from Russia, Ms Rahid said, “The Indian government engages regularly with the US government on a wide range of issues, including India’s energy security.” On a separate question, the foreign minister V Muraleedharan said the travel warnings issued in the US ranged from 1 to 4.
“The U.S. travel warning for India is at ‘Level 2: Increased Vigilance’ and advises U.S. citizens traveling to India that they may be on increased alert due to crime and terrorism,” he said.
Mr Muraleedharan was asked if the US had recently issued a travel advisory asking its citizens to “be more cautious” when traveling to India because of the high crime and terrorism rates.
The minister said the government regularly engages with the United States on all issues of mutual concern, including travel facilitation between the two countries.
“We have said that there should be no concern for the safety of American citizens in India, and given our strong people-to-people ties, it is important to ensure movement and travel between the two countries, which is mutually beneficial,” he said.
(Aside from the title, this story is unedited by NDTV staff and published via a syndicated feed.)
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