Rahul Gandhi’s direct question to PM Modi on US ‘permission’ to buy Russian oil, chaos in Lok Sabha

A sharp exchange over India’s fuel strategy erupted in the Lok Sabha after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi warned that the country’s energy security was being compromised by “external pressure” on oil and gas decisions. Raising the issue amid LPG shortages and a spike in global prices due to the West Asia war, Gandhi questioned why “a nation the size of India” would allow the United States to effectively decide whether it can buy oil from Russia or other suppliers, arguing that a “flawed foreign policy” has bartered away India’s autonomy. His remarks, which linked gas and petrol shortages to constrained sourcing through the Strait of Hormuz and to U.S. leverage, triggered loud protests from treasury benches and prompted Speaker Om Birla to intervene and cut him off. Ministers later accused Gandhi of straying from his listed subject, even as he insisted that “gas, petrol is going to be a problem” and urged the government and Prime Minister to urgently prepare for a looming fuel crisis so that “crores of people” do not suffer massive losses.