A political confrontation erupted in Parliament on Thursday after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey strongly criticized Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for protesting inside the Parliament complex along with other opposition leaders. Dubey questioned the manner of the protest and mocked Gandhi after a photograph showing him having tea and biscuits during the demonstration went viral on social media.
The protest took place at the Makar Dwar entrance of Parliament, where several opposition MPs gathered to highlight concerns over the reported shortage of LPG cylinders affecting businesses and households across parts of the country. However, Dubey argued that Parliament is not the right place for such demonstrations and accused the opposition of turning a serious issue into a publicity event.
Reacting sharply, Dubey said that raising public issues is important but there must be proper conduct inside Parliament. He stated, “This is Parliament, not a canteen. You are raising the issues of the common people and highlighting the problem of LPG shortage. The government will respond to that. But is this a picnic spot?”
Dubey further emphasized that protests and political agitation should take place outside Parliament rather than within the premises of the legislative building. According to him, the scenes witnessed during the protest blurred the line between street politics and parliamentary functioning.
“Parliament is separate, the street is separate,” Dubey said while addressing reporters. He also took a political swipe at the Congress party, claiming that its strategy of protests and accusations against the government is no longer convincing the public. He added that the current political situation suggests that the Congress party may struggle to regain power for decades.
“The situation that is being seen indicates that Congress will not return until 2047. The way Congress fools the common people has been exposed,” he said.
The criticism came shortly after Rahul Gandhi raised concerns in the Lok Sabha regarding the impact of the West Asia crisis on India’s energy supplies. Gandhi claimed that the country is already witnessing the early stages of an LPG shortage, which is affecting several sectors, including the hotel and hospitality industry that relies heavily on commercial LPG cylinders.
During his speech in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi warned that the difficulties faced by businesses and consumers may increase in the coming days. He described the current situation as only the “beginning of pain” and suggested that the problem could worsen if energy supply chains continue to face disruptions due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
The Congress leader also criticized the Union government’s foreign policy decisions and accused it of compromising India’s strategic independence in energy procurement. Gandhi questioned why the United States should have any influence over India’s oil purchasing decisions.
Referring to the role of the US administration, he asked how the President of the United States, Donald Trump, could effectively decide from where and from whom India should buy its oil. According to Gandhi, such pressure has weakened India’s energy security and contributed to rising shortages and price concerns.
Rahul Gandhi repeated his earlier allegation that the government had “compromised” on crucial policy decisions. He argued that this compromise has created a situation where petrol and LPG supplies are becoming uncertain, directly affecting both consumers and businesses across the country.
The exchange between Dubey and Gandhi reflects the growing political battle between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress over the energy crisis debate. While the government has repeatedly assured that fuel supplies remain stable, opposition leaders continue to raise concerns about possible shortages and economic impact.
With tensions escalating both inside and outside Parliament, the issue of LPG availability and fuel security is likely to remain a major topic of political debate in the coming days.
