Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. File | Photo credit: PTI
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday (April 6, 2026) claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has dealt with the “LPG gas crisis” as well as the COVID-19 pandemic because it “lacks policy, is full of grandiose announcements” and puts the “entire burden” on the poor.
Also read | LPG crisis update
The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha asked why it is always the poor who perish first in every crisis and urged people not to remain silent.
“Modi Ji said, ‘We will deal with LPG gas crisis like we dealt with Covid.’ And indeed, he did exactly that. Just like Covid – no politics, full of grandiose announcements and putting all the burden on the poor,” Mr Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.
For migrant laborers who earn a daily wage of ₹500-800, cooking gas has become completely unaffordable, he said.
According to him, the worker who returns home at night does not even have money to light the stove.
“The result? Leave the city, run back to the village. It is the workers who serve as the backbone of the textile mills and factories that are on the verge of collapse today,” he claimed.
“The textile sector is already in ICU. The manufacturing sector is gasping for breath. And where did this crisis originate? From that diplomatic mistake – committed at the negotiating table – which the government still refuses to acknowledge,” Gandhi said.
“When arrogance becomes policy, the economy crumbles, workers are forced to migrate, industry is in ruins and the entire nation is pushed back decades,” Gandhi said, criticizing the Modi government.
“Only one question remains: Why is it always the poor who die first in every crisis? Do not remain silent. This is not just a question for the poor, it is a question for all of us,” the former Congress leader said.
In a speech to Parliament on March 23, Prime Minister Modi said that the difficult global conditions caused by the conflict in West Asia were likely to persist for a long time and urged the nation to remain prepared and united, just as it stood together during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last week, Prime Minister Modi called for an “all-out effort” to protect Indian citizens from the effects of war in West Asia, stressing a timely and authentic public information system to prevent any misinformation or rumours.
In a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which he chaired, the Prime Minister also reviewed the availability of critical necessities for the common people and said that all efforts should be made to protect citizens from the effects of this conflict.
Mr. Modi directed all concerned departments to take all possible measures to improve the problems of citizens and sectors affected by the ongoing global situation, the PMO statement said.
Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan briefed those present on the measures taken to ensure supply of petroleum products, particularly LNG/LPG, and electricity.
There is a diversification of LPG purchase sources with new inflows from different countries. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is also sourced from various countries.
Published – 06 Apr 2026 14:12 IST
