Tempers flared in the Rajya Sabha on Monday as Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge took the government to task over the escalating LPG shortage, accusing the administration of failing to anticipate the energy fallout from the West Asia conflict. Raising the matter during Zero Hour, the Leader of the Opposition argued that the government’s lack of foresight has left ordinary households and small businesses at the mercy of a rampant black market.
Kharge pointed out that the government had enough time to prepare, noting that an advisory had been issued to Indian citizens the moment hostilities broke out. "Despite knowing that energy supplies would be hit, no preemptive measures were taken," he told the House, adding that the crisis has laid bare "pathetic management and a flawed foreign policy." He further alleged that in some regions, desperate families are being forced to pay as much as ₹5,000 for a single cylinder on the black market, a far cry from the Petroleum Minister’s recent assurances in the Lok Sabha that supplies remained stable.
The government’s rebuttal was swift and sharp. Union Minister and Leader of the House J.P. Nadda accused the Congress of opportunism, suggesting the Opposition was more interested in "instigating the public" than offering solutions. "It is regrettable that even during a period of national crisis, the Opposition is playing politics," Nadda remarked. He further charged that Kharge’s comments were aimed at sowing "anarchy" rather than standing in solidarity with the country during a difficult geopolitical moment.
While the treasury benches maintain that the shortage is a temporary consequence of the maritime blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, the heated exchange reflects a growing anxiety across the political spectrum. With domestic prices climbing and rationing already in effect in several states, the pressure is mounting on New Delhi to find a diplomatic or logistical breakthrough before the domestic "kitchen crisis" spirals further out of control.
Also read: Kharge fires fresh salvo at Modi over US ties
Follow us
