New Delhi [India], August 6 (ANI): Following US President Donald Trump's tariff threat to India, Congress MP Imran Masood on Wednesday said India should respond strongly.

Masood questioned why India is being threatened when other countries like America and Britain also buy oil. He called on Prime Minister Modi to take a firm stand against the threats.

Speaking to ANI, Imran Masood said, 'Does America not buy oil, does Britain not buy oil? Have you considered India so weak that you keep threatening us all the time? You are also giving concessions to China, but you will threaten India... We should take a firm stand. PM Modi should respond to this with strength.'

Earlier, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) stated that he had no knowledge that the United States imports Russian Chemicals and fertilisers. The rebuttal came after India claimed that the US continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, fertilisers, as well as chemicals.

When asked by the ANI about US Imports of Russian chemicals and fertilizers during a press conference at the White House, Trump said, 'I don't know anything about it. We will have to check.'

The comment came a day after the US President announced that the United States would 'substantially raise' tariffs on India over its purchase of Russian oil.

'India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!' Trump had said in a post on Truth Social on Monday.

The US President's statement was strongly rejected by India, with the Ministry of External Affairs calling the targeting of India 'unjustified and unreasonable.'

In a detailed response, India said its imports from Russia were based on market needs and energy security, especially after Western nations diverted traditional supplies to Europe following the Ukraine conflict. (ANI)