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Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday raised an alarm in the Lok Sabha over reported LPG shortages affecting restaurants and small food businesses. He argued that the emerging disruption reflects the early impact of the intensifying conflict in West Asia.
During his address, the Congress leader criticised the Union government and accused it of yielding to directives from the United States. He questioned why Donald Trump, the US President, should influence India’s decisions on purchasing crude oil.
Gandhi asserted that restrictions on buying Russian oil and other diplomatic compromises have weakened India’s energy independence.
According to him, these decisions have contributed to tightening fuel supplies and rising anxiety among traders and vendors.
Referring to the geopolitical situation, Gandhi stated that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz would severely disrupt global energy flows. He noted that nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil moves through the strategic passage. India relies heavily on that corridor for importing crude oil and natural gas.
Rahul Gandhi warned that the consequences were already visible. Restaurants have reportedly halted operations, street vendors face difficulty securing LPG cylinders, and apprehension continues to spread across local markets.
The remarks drew a swift rebuttal from Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
Rahul Gandhi told the House that India’s petroleum reserves remain adequate and insisted that the country does not face any immediate supply emergency.
The debate intensified when Gandhi referred to the minister’s alleged association with Jeffrey Epstein.
The comment prompted intervention from Speaker Om Birla, while several Bharatiya Janata Party MPs demanded disciplinary action against the Congress leader for breaching parliamentary decorum.
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