Congress Party Chairman Haq raised the LPG crisis in the House of Commons, and the government fought back due to “shortage politics”

New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Union House Malikajun Haq on Monday raised the issue of the LPG crisis triggered by the conflict in West Asia, asking why the government did not plan in advance for LPG imports or make alternative arrangements despite being aware of regional tensions. “If the government was aware of regional tensions, why didn’t it make alternative arrangements? Why didn’t the opposition get involved and mount a coordinated response to public anxieties.” Why didn’t the government do anything to curb the hoarding and black-marketing of LPG? This crisis has exposed not only our mismanagement but also our weak domestic and foreign policies. “Haq’s submission, which went well beyond the 3 minutes allowed to each MP at zero hour to speak, drew a strong reaction from Leader of the House JP Nadda, who accused the Opposition of spreading anarchy and engaging in politics over the LPG shortage issue instead of standing with the government, which was dealing with a situation that was not of India’s own making but purely due to international developments. Nadda reminded Haq of Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri’s earlier statement on the LPG situation on LS but recalled that the MPs did not even hear him. Nadda claimed that a Congress leader was arrested for hoarding LPG. Haq earlier said the LPG crisis has triggered panic across the country and has adversely affected poor, middle-class families besides restaurants, hotels and commercial establishments. He recalled that India imports LPG to meet 60 per cent of its domestic needs, adding that 90 per cent of its imports come from the Strait of Hormuz. “The supply and price stability of LPG have become matters of serious concern...MSMEs and commercial users are facing problems in ensuring LPG refills. What is worrying is that some businesses have stopped operations while others are paying up to Rs 5,000 per bottle,” he claimed.Reacting to Puri’s claim that there is no shortage of LPG, Haq claimed that the reality is different. “When India issues a warning to its citizens in Iran about the deteriorating situation, it should also warn of the adverse impact on critical sea lanes and energy supplies. We should prepare accordingly. The government is aware of the impending situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Therefore, if LPG imports had been planned in advance and alternative arrangements had been made, we would not have faced this crisis,” he noted.