New Delhi is on edge as escalating tensions between the US-Israel alliance and Iran threaten India’s vital oil lifeline. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of silence amid a looming energy crisis.
In a pointed post on X, Gandhi warned that the world is hurtling toward instability, with India’s oil imports—over 40% routed through the Strait of Hormuz—now at severe risk. The situation worsens for LPG and LNG supplies, he noted, as conflict edges closer to home with an Iranian warship sinking in the Indian Ocean.
‘We need steady leadership now more than ever,’ Gandhi asserted. ‘Instead, we have a Prime Minister who compromises and abandons strategic autonomy.’ Crude oil prices surged over 2% on Thursday amid supply disruptions, triggered by Iran’s blockade of the Hormuz Strait and an attack on a container ship passing through it.
Despite the alarms, government sources insist India remains secure with 25 days’ stock of crude oil and petroleum products. The nation imports over 85% of its crude needs, half from Middle East countries via the strait, now hampered by the Iran conflict.
Gandhi’s critique highlights a growing political rift, as opposition voices demand transparency and preparedness. With global markets jittery and fuel prices ticking upward, the government’s response—or lack thereof—could define the months ahead. As India navigates this geopolitical storm, questions swirl: Is Modi prioritizing diplomacy, or is strategic silence risking economic fallout?