The Centre on Thursday assured the Lok Sabha that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or kerosene in the country despite the ongoing crisis in West Asia, urging people not to fall for rumours or misinformation.
Responding to concerns raised by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the government has taken adequate steps to ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies across the country. He emphasised that maintaining steady fuel availability for India’s 33 crore households remains a top priority for the government.
Puri informed the House that retail fuel outlets are well stocked and supply chains are functioning normally, ensuring that consumers are not affected by geopolitical developments in the region.
Amid sloganeering by opposition members during the discussion, the minister said India had successfully secured sufficient crude oil supplies despite disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route for oil.
He attributed the stability in supply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic outreach, stating that India managed to procure crude volumes exceeding what could have been delivered through the disrupted shipping corridor during the same period.
The government reiterated that there is no immediate threat to the country’s fuel availability and called on the public to avoid spreading panic or unverified information regarding energy supplies.
