India, July 28 -- As the war in Ukraine rages on, several Western countries, led by the United States, have called out India and other nations for their purchase of Russian oil and other trade practices. In response to this criticism, Indian high commissioner to the UK said a country "can't just switch off its economy".

Speaking to UK-based Times Radio last week, the Indian envoy Vikram K Doraiswami stated that while the West is criticising India for buying Russian oil, many European countries "continue to buy rare earth mineral from the same countries it does not want India to buy from."

"Europe continues to buy rare earths from the same country they don't want India to buy oil from. You don't think that's a little odd?" he asked the j...