Kharge seeks PM’s reply in Parliament, alleges ‘fake source-based assurances’ on West Asia crisis

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday (March 11, 2026) demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi respond in Parliament to the emerging economic impact of the conflict in West Asia, and accused the Union government of masking its “utter incompetence” through “fake source-based assurances” on India’s energy preparedness.

In a post on social media platform X, Mr. Kharge alleged that the government had prior knowledge of the likelihood of a war in West Asia but failed to take adequate steps to secure the country’s energy supply. The consequences, he said, were now being borne by ordinary citizens as the crisis was beginning to affect several sectors of the economy.

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“Modi Govt’s fake ‘source based’ assurances expose its utter incompetence,” Mr. Kharge said, adding that the government was aware of the possibility of a conflict but “did nothing to secure India’s energy supply”.

Farmers were likely to be among the first to be affected, as fuel shortages could disrupt fertilizer supply, the Congress leader said. Rationing of LPG cylinders had begun in some places, with long queues reported for refills, and waiting periods of up to 25 days for domestic cylinders, he also claimed.

Restaurants and small eateries were shutting down because of shortage of commercial cylinders, while hoarding and sale in the black market were spreading, Mr. Kharge further alleged. Around 60,000 tonnes of basmati rice exports were stuck and wheat shipments had been disrupted, he said.

Warning of wider economic repercussions, he said medicine prices could surge as raw material costs would rise by nearly 30%, while the textile sector was also facing cascading cost pressures. Aviation fuel prices were increasing, he added, which could make air travel more expensive.

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“From ceramics and glass to FMCG and automobiles, every sector is feeling the heat. Every product is likely to become costlier,” Mr. Kharge said.

The Congress president also accused the government of following a familiar pattern of denial during crises, citing its handling of the 2016 demonetisation of high-denomination currency notes, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government had then assured the public that cash shortages would last only 50 days, Mr. Kharge said, recalling the Prime Minister’s statement that he would accept any punishment the country decided upon if the measure failed. During the pandemic, the Congress leader alleged, the government initially downplayed the seriousness of the crisis, before the country witnessed large-scale suffering.

“Now we are told India has 74 days of oil and energy stocks. Situation remains grim. The country deserves the truth,” Mr. Kharge said, adding: “We demand a full discussion on this crisis in Parliament and the Prime Minister must answer the nation.”

Echoing the party president, Lok Sabha member Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said prices had risen steadily over the past decade while unemployment continued to increase.

“Now look at the LPG situation — how much more will people bear because of their (the Centre’s) policies and decisions? If there had been a proper discussion in the House, at least we could have raised the questions of the people,” Ms. Vadra said.