CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Friday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union govt for “seeking” United States approval to purchase Russian oil and said it raised a fundamental question as to why India should get another country’s approval to secure its own energy needs. He questioned the Union govt’s silence on the sinking of Iran’s warship IRIS Dena, which was unarmed and returning to its country after participating in the International Fleet Review 2026 naval exercise hosted by India. Taking to X, Stalin said, “When the United States decides to allow India to purchase Russian oil for just 30 days, it raises a fundamental question. Why should India need another country’s approval to secure its own energy needs?” “Equally troubling was the sinking of the unarmed Iranian warship IRIS Dena by the United States soon after it participated in the International Fleet Review 2026 naval exercise hosted by India in Visakhapatnam,” said Stalin. “When a ship that came to India as part of a multinational exercise meets such a fate, India cannot appear silent or passive,” said Stalin. The Union govt appeared totally compromised on India’s long-standing tradition of strategic autonomy and an independent foreign policy. “India’s dignity in the international arena needed to be protected, and the nation’s sovereignty and interests needed to be defended,” Stalin said in his social media post.