Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday expressed concern over the shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) amid the situation in West Asia, urging the Center to start preparations and change the mindset.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Rahul Gandhi said that he was not allowed to give a statement on the LPG shortage in Parliament.
Gandhi said, “Normally the procedure is that you can ask for permission to speak. So I asked for permission to make a statement about the situation of LPG gas and oil in the country. But now a new process has started in which first the minister will take a decision, then I will speak, and then the minister will reply.”
The incident occurred when Congress MP KC Venugopal asked Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, “The partisan MP has given notice. Please allow him to raise the issue of LPG crisis.”
Speaker Birla said that this matter can be raised in the presence of the Petroleum Minister. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also said similar things. Om Birla said, “I have received the notice and I have informed the minister. We will discuss it in the presence of the minister.”
Furthermore, speaking to reporters, Rahul Gandhi said that the LPG problem will become more serious in the coming days and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the protection of citizens’ interests and energy needs.
Gandhi said, “All types of fuel are going to be a problem because basically our energy security is in jeopardy. Our foreign policy is flawed.”
This is the root of this problem. Now we have to prepare. We still have some time left. The government and the Prime Minister should start preparations immediately; Otherwise crores of people will have to suffer huge losses.
The opposition leader further said, “This is a much bigger issue than whether Iran will supply fuel or not. This war is fundamentally linked to the existing world order. We are entering an unstable phase. At this time you have to change your thinking. I want to tell the government that now they should start thinking deeply and ensure that our people do not suffer huge losses. This is not a political statement.”
He said, “I see a big problem coming. The problem is that the Prime Minister is not able to function as the Prime Minister of the country. There is a reason for this, and that is that he is stuck in a trap. Still, he has to ensure that the people of India remain safe and we manage our energy security ourselves. The Prime Minister is unable to function as a Prime Minister because he is stuck in a trap. Still, he has to ensure that the people of India remain safe.”
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Wednesday said that domestic LPG production has increased by about 25 percent and the entire domestic LPG production is being directed towards domestic consumers. The Home Ministry has strengthened the control room, which is now operational round the clock.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Puri will give a statement on this issue in Parliament today.