The Congress on Wednesday demanded an explanation from Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal after a bipartisan group of US senators introduced a Bill proposing 100 per cent tariffs on imports from India and four other countries over Russian oil purchase, alleging that the move reflected India’s “humiliation” on the global stage.The Bill exempts 15 European countries that continue to import Russian gas, saying such purchases account for only a small share of their energy needs and that those nations are reducing their dependence on Moscow.Reacting sharply, Congress media and publicity department chairman Pawan Khera questioned the Centre’s response and asked Goyal to spell out the government’s position.Khera said the Commerce Minister had been quick to reject reports that India was holding out for a better trade agreement with the US, but had yet to respond to a proposal backed by American lawmakers.He said the proposed tariffs were not being pushed by opposition Democrats but by Republican senators with the backing of US President Donald Trump.Khera alleged that India was now facing the prospect of punitive tariffs for purchasing Russian oil and claimed the development exposed the government’s handling of foreign and trade policy.If passed by the US Congress, the legislation would authorise the use of tariffs as a geopolitical tool against countries accused of helping finance Russia’s war effort through energy imports. It would mark the first such move by the US legislature.