Indian American Congressman urges India to condemn Russian invasion

India should condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, a prominent Indian-American Congressman said in an interview with Fox News on Sunday

Ro Khanna, a Democrat who represents Silicon Valley in the US House of Representatives, urged New Delhi to condemn Russia's military assault and reassess its trading relationships with Moscow. 

"I've been clear actually on India, and I think India ought to be condemning Putin and India ought not to be getting oil from Russia or China. We ought to rally the world to isolate Putin," Khanna said.

"India should condemn in the UN Putin for the blatant human rights violations."

Khanna criticised India’s decision to continue purchasing arms from Russia, saying that New Delhi needed to strengthen ties with Washington DC and purchase weapons from the United States instead.

"They need to realise, they have to pick sides. We, the United States, was with them when China invaded India. Putin wasn't there. And it's time for them to buy weapons from the United States, not Russia. We've got to look at how we can facilitate that and make that easier. We need India as an ally ultimately to contain China," he added.

Several US lawmakers have expressed their disappointment over India's stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including John Cornyn, the Republican co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, and Dr Ami Bera, an Indian American Congressman.

India is one of the few world powers that has not condemned Russia's invasion, which has made it a target for criticism from the US and Europe.

New Delhi continues to trade with Moscow despite its increasing isolation and sanctions on the country.