Bangladesh, Sept. 26 -- India has forcefully rejected NATO Secretary-General Mark Ruttes assertion that Prime Minister Narendra Modi phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss Moscows Ukraine strategy following Washingtons tariff hike on Indian imports. The diplomatic rebuttal underscores New Delhis determination to defend its sovereignty, counter misinformation, and resist what it sees as Western hypocrisy in politicizing essential commodities such as energy, food, and fertilizers.

Rutte, in an interview with CNNs Christiane Amanpour, claimed that US President Donald Trumps imposition of sweeping tariffs on Indian imports in August – including a 25% levy on New Delhis purchases of Russian oil – prompted Modi to call ...