New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday claimed that India’s energy security has been undermined by a “flawed” foreign policy, calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government to prepare urgently to avert suffering for crores amid emerging LPG shortage.
Speaking to reporters in the Parliament House complex, the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition said the Prime Minister is “trapped” and struggling to function, yet must prioritise public protection and self-managed energy security.
“Basically, gas and fuel are going to be a problem because our energy security has been compromised,” Rahul said. “A flawed foreign policy has created this problem. Now, what we have to do is to prepare. You have some time. The government and the prime minister must immediately start the preparations because otherwise crores of people will suffer massive losses.”
Rahul framed the challenge beyond immediate oil disputes. “It is a bigger issue than Iran allowing oil and not allowing oil. This war is fundamentally about the current world order… We are going into an unstable time. When you are going into an unstable time you have to change your mindset, you cannot have the same mindset,” Rahul warned.
He urged deep strategic thinking to shield citizens. “I am suggesting to the government that it must start thinking deeply about the possibilities and what India can do to make sure its people are not harmed. I am not making any political statement. I am just saying that I can see that a big problem is coming and if this is resolved at the level of Iran then also this problem will not go away because the world is changing, its structure is changing and we have to change our mindset. If we don’t change that mindset, not work with clarity and not keep India at the centre of it, then there would be problem.”
Reiterating the core issue, Rahul stated: “There is a central problem here. The prime minister is not able to function as the PM of India. There is a reason for it. He is trapped. Anyway, he still needs to make sure currently that the people of India are protected, he needs to make sure that our energy security is managed by us, that we are taking decisions pertaining to our energy security.”
The Congress MP hoped the government would heed his words to avoid “massive harm” and noted he sought to address Parliament on the LPG situation. “I had asked to be allowed to make a statement on the situation in the country regarding LPG. I wanted to speak about that. But a new procedure has started that first a minister will decide, then I will speak and then the minister will reply. Let us see what happens,” he said.
Rahul had earlier criticised Modi for panicking over the Epstein files and US Adani case, even as the Prime Minister on Wednesday sought to calm public fears, assuring crisis management and public interest protection.
