New Delhi, March 11 Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday of "hiding" when the country is grappling with a gas shortage crisis due to the ongoing war in West Asia, while accusing him of pandering to Israel.
During a discussion on the functioning of the Ministry of Rural Development in the Upper House, Singh claimed that people across the country are standing in long queues to get gas, while DMK member Tiruchi Siva demanded a discussion on the impact of the US-Israel conflict on Iran on India's fuel supply.
"Where is the Prime Minister of the country hiding when the nation is grappling with the gas crisis? Please bring him out... The entire country is standing in queue for gas and the PM is hiding," Singh said.
He further said, "I want to ask you, in the war in the Middle East between the US-Israel and Iran, why are you pandering to Israel, which has resulted in India suffering from a gas shortage?"
Taking a dig at the government's rural development initiatives, the AAP member said that through the 'Ujjwala' scheme, 8-10 crore gas cylinders were distributed in rural areas, and another 10-11 crore connections were taken by people themselves, resulting in 21 crore connections in rural areas, but they are now struggling to get gas.
"The entire country is standing in queues, villages are standing in queues, cities are standing in queues, every locality is standing in queue," he claimed.
Stating that hotels are closing down in Morbi, Gujarat, due to gas shortages, Singh said, "What have you done?"
Participating in the discussion, DMK member Siva demanded a discussion on the impact of the war in West Asia on India, particularly on fuel shortages, saying, "It is also imperative for Parliament to discuss pressing issues that have emerged in the nation."
Although India is not directly involved in the war, he said, "the war has had a huge impact, particularly regarding fuel, especially natural gas and cooking gas."
Every state is convening urgent meetings on how to address the issues. He said restaurants are being closed due to gas shortages, adding that prices are going up and homemakers are suffering.
"Is it not very important that Parliament discusses this? We feel very sad," he lamented.
Siva said Parliament should consider it a responsibility to discuss and resolve the issue.
"We don't know what is going to happen... how the economic recession that emerges in some other nation impacts the rest of the world," he added.
Siva said the fuel crisis will affect many more and wanted to know what the Union government's plans are, asserting that people in rural areas are also affected by the fuel crisis.
"We must rise to the occasion... what actually concerns the people, Parliament should also take serious concern. The government is accountable to Parliament and Parliament is accountable to the people," Siva said.
Participating in the discussion, P P Suneer (CPI) highlighted challenges such as unemployment and agrarian crisis in rural areas and expressed concern over the decline in budgetary allocation for rural development.
Similarly, Ramji (BSP) lamented that in many Dalit villages, there are proper roads, drinking water supply, schools, and no access to healthcare facilities, contrary to the claims of the government.
Priyanka Chaturvedi (SS-UBT) also pointed out farmer suicides in Maharashtra and asserted that rural development is an important part of social and economic stability.
The claims of the Opposition were contested by BJP members Rekha Sharma and Anil Sukhdeorao Bonde, who listed several steps taken up by the government for rural development.