As Middle East flare-ups jeopardize global energy flows, Rahul Gandhi has zeroed in on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s apparent inaction, igniting a fresh political firestorm in India.
The Congress stalwart took to X to alert the nation: Global instability threatens, with India’s oil imports critically dependent on the Strait of Hormuz for over 40% of supplies. LPG and LNG face even graver threats. ‘Conflict has reached our neighborhood—an Iranian warship sank in the Indian Ocean—yet the PM says nothing,’ he posted.
Gandhi decried the need for ‘stable leadership’ against Modi’s ‘compromising’ style that forsakes strategic autonomy. Thursday saw crude oil prices spike more than 2%, fueled by Iran’s Hormuz blockade and an assault on a passing container ship, damaging its hull.
Government insiders downplay immediate panic, citing 25 days of crude reserves and petroleum stocks. India sources 85% of its oil abroad, with Middle Eastern shipments—primarily via the strait—now curtailed post-Iran escalations.
Gandhi’s outburst taps into public anxieties over fuel hikes and supply chains. With opposition ramping up pressure, Modi’s office faces calls for a clear strategy. In this high-stakes energy chess game, India’s moves could avert or amplify domestic woes, shaping voter sentiments ahead.