NEW DELHI — Chaos erupted in the Lok Sabha on Thursday as Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi strayed from his permitted topic of LPG supply, leading to a heated confrontation with Speaker Om Birla and an eventual adjournment of the house.
While Gandhi was granted special floor time to discuss the domestic impact of the Middle East conflict on fuel prices, the debate quickly descended into a shouting match over parliamentary procedures and external controversies.
Key Moments of the Disruption:
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The “Notice” Dispute: Speaker Om Birla repeatedly urged Gandhi to stick to the LPG notice he had filed. Gandhi argued that energy security was intrinsically linked to broader global issues, while the Speaker insisted on following strict parliamentary rules.
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Microphone Controversy: Addressing claims from the Opposition, Speaker Birla clarified that the Chair does not have a “button” to manually switch off microphones, calling such allegations “malicious.”
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Topic Shift: The situation escalated when Gandhi moved away from energy concerns to attack Union Minister Hardeep Puri regarding the “Epstein Files” controversy.
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House Adjourned: Following loud objections from BJP benches and Congress members rushing into the well of the house, papers were torn and thrown, forcing an immediate adjournment.
Government Response:
Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri dismissed Gandhi’s claims of an LPG shortage as a “fake narrative.” He assured the house that India’s crude supply remains secure, with imports now sourced from approximately 40 countries, ensuring that domestic CNG and PNG supplies remain unaffected despite the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju later criticized the Opposition leader, stating that he had wasted a special opportunity to discuss a matter of public importance by pivoting to unrelated global issues.
