Parliament Budget Session: Rahul Gandhi warns LPG crisis ‘just beginning’; govt assures enough fuel
The Parliament Budget Session on Thursday saw a sharp exchange over India’s fuel situation as Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi warned that the ongoing LPG crisis triggered by unrest in West Asia could worsen, while the government insisted that there is no shortage of petroleum products in the country.
Speaking about the impact of the escalating conflict in the Middle East on India’s energy supplies, Gandhi said the emerging LPG crisis was only the beginning, and the situation could deteriorate if the geopolitical tensions continue.
“The LPG crisis is just the beginning,” Gandhi said, warning that the hardship faced by people could increase in the coming days if the supply disruptions intensify.
His remarks came amid concerns that the ongoing conflict in West Asia could affect global energy routes and push up fuel prices, potentially disrupting supply chains for cooking gas and petroleum products.
The issue was also raised in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Budget Session, where the Opposition pressed the government to clarify its preparedness to deal with any fuel shortages arising from the geopolitical situation.
Responding to the concerns, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri assured Parliament that India currently faces no shortage of petrol or diesel and that the government has taken steps to ensure uninterrupted energy supply.
“There is no dearth of petrol and diesel in India,” Puri said, adding that the country’s energy security remains stable despite global uncertainties.
He said the government has diversified crude oil procurement and currently imports crude from around 40 countries to reduce dependence on any single region. Puri also said the government is ensuring an uninterrupted supply of compressed natural gas across the country.
“Hundred percent CNG supply is being ensured,” he said, emphasising that India’s diversified sourcing strategy has helped shield the country from major disruptions in global oil markets.
Officials have indicated that India’s strategy of sourcing crude oil from multiple countries has helped maintain stable supplies even as the West Asia crisis affects major shipping routes and global energy markets.
The debate over fuel availability took place against the backdrop of a broader discussion in the Lok Sabha on supplementary demands for grants during the Budget Session, where Opposition MPs also raised concerns over funding allocations, welfare schemes and parliamentary procedures.
Several members criticised the Centre over what they described as inadequate financial support for states and reductions in key welfare programmes.
DMK MP Dr. Ganpathy Rajkumar alleged that Tamil Nadu continues to receive low allocations for railway projects despite being one of the country’s major economic contributors. He also criticised the rejection of proposed metro rail projects in Madurai and Coimbatore, calling it a “stepmotherly attitude” towards the state.
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi had alleged that he was denied an opportunity to speak in the Lok Sabha on the emerging fuel supply situation linked to the escalating conflict in West Asia.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, the leader of the Opposition said he had sought permission to address the House regarding the potential impact of the conflict on India’s LPG, gas, and oil supplies but was not allowed to do so.
“Normally, there is a procedure where you can ask to speak. I had asked to be allowed to make a statement about the situation in the country regarding LPG, gas, and oil,” Gandhi said.
“This is just the beginning, and I wanted to speak about it, but a new procedure seems to have started. A minister will decide first, then I will speak, and then the minister will reply. So let’s see what happens,” he added.
The remarks came as concerns over global energy supply disruptions grow amid the ongoing crisis in West Asia, which has affected major shipping routes and heightened volatility in international oil markets.
Later in the day, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri is expected to brief Parliament on India’s overall energy supply situation and the government’s preparedness to manage potential disruptions.
Government officials have said that India’s crude supply remains secure due to diversified procurement strategies despite the geopolitical tensions affecting global energy routes.
Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha debate on supplementary demands for grants also saw several Opposition members raising concerns about parliamentary procedure, economic conditions and funding allocations to states.
“In this crisis, silence is not diplomacy; it is complete surrender,” Parambil said during the debate, urging the government to clarify its efforts to ensure the safety of Indian citizens caught in the conflict zone. He also accused the government of neglecting parliamentary procedures, alleging that detailed supplementary grant demands were circulated only hours before the discussion began.