Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the government, alleging that India’s energy security has been compromised and that the country has effectively “bartered” its right to independently determine oil and gas partnerships due to pressure from the US.
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“The central artery from where 20% of global oil flows, Strait of Hormuz, has been closed and this is going to have tremendous repercussions, particularly for us because a very large portion of our oil and natural gas comes through the Strait of Hormuz,” Gandhi said.
“The foundation of every nation is its energy security,” he said, adding the closure of Strait of Hormuz would inevitably have serious repercussions for the Indian economy and fuel supply chains.
Asserting that the impact was already being felt on the ground, the Congress leader said panic over LPG supplies was beginning to affect businesses and small vendors. “The pain has just started – restaurants are closing, there is widespread anxiety about LPG and street vendors are being affected. This is only the beginning,” he said.
Also Read: Middle East war: OMCs to start allocating 20% of commercial LPG from today to curb hoarding, says Hardeep Puri“This is puzzling for a nation the size of India – that another country’s (the US) president decides whether we can buy Russian oil or determine our own relationships with energy suppliers.”
The remarks triggered an uproar from the treasury benches, with several MPs objecting to the allegations. Speaker Om Birla asked Gandhi to confine his remarks to the subject raised in his notice and avoid straying into unrelated issues.
