‘Modi has surrendered to America’

NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — India’s main opposition party has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of compromising the country’s energy sovereignty as fuel shortages triggered long queues for cooking gas across several cities, linking the crisis to what it described as U.S. pressure over India’s oil imports.

The criticism came after reports of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shortages in multiple states, with residents seen waiting in long lines outside distribution agencies. Congress leaders say the disruptions reflect deeper vulnerabilities in India’s energy supply amid the ongoing Middle East war, which has unsettled global oil and gas markets.

Speaking to reporters, Congress leader Alka Lamba said the situation demonstrated that decisions about when and from where India imports oil are increasingly being shaped by Washington rather than New Delhi.

“During Narendra Modi’s tenure, the country has repeatedly been forced to stand in lines,” Lamba said, referring to the 2016 demonetization drive and shortages of medical oxygen during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Now people are again standing in lines because of LPG shortages.”

Lamba further alleged that the Modi government has yielded to pressure from the United States on India’s energy policies. Her remarks followed comments by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicating that Washington had temporarily allowed India to resume limited purchases of Russian crude oil, describing New Delhi as a “good actor” among U.S. partners.

Congress leaders argue that such statements suggest India’s energy decisions are being influenced by U.S. strategic priorities at a time when global tensions are disrupting fuel markets.

The opposition has  also linked the controversy to references circulating in political debate about the “Epstein files,” alleging that the material is being used by Washington to pressure the Indian government. 

Alka Lamba claimed that the Prime Minister Modi had “completely surrendered” to Washington because America was “scaring and blackmailing” him with references to the files, suggesting that such pressure had compromised India’s energy decisions.

Members of the Congress party staged protests in India’s Parliament on Wednesday, demanding an urgent debate on the LPG shortages and the broader impact of geopolitical tensions on India’s fuel supply.

Among those participating was senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who said citizens had already endured multiple crises over the past decade and questioned how long people would continue facing shortages without a full parliamentary discussion.

Images circulating on social media showed long queues outside LPG distribution centers in cities including Delhi, Noida, Lucknow, Deoria, Vijayapura, Bhubaneswar and Pune.

Industry groups say the shortage has also disrupted commercial LPG supplies used by hotels, restaurants and catering businesses. Hospitality associations in major cities such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata have warned that some establishments may have to reduce operations or temporarily shut down if the disruption continues.

Some restaurants have reportedly switched to induction stoves or simplified menus to cope with limited gas cylinder availability.

Opposition leaders say the situation highlights India’s heavy dependence on imported energy and the country’s exposure to geopolitical tensions in major oil-producing regions.

They have called for a parliamentary debate on the fuel shortages and the government’s handling of energy security as the Middle East conflict continues to affect global supply chains.