New Delhi

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “panicking” over issues such as the Adani indictment in the United States and the Epstein files, and alleged that the prime minister was avoiding addressing Parliament even as the country faces an LPG shortage amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi said the prime minister’s appeal to the public not to panic was contradicted by his own conduct.

“The PM is saying that there is no need to panic. But the PM himself is panicked for completely different reasons. He is panicked because of the Adani case and Epstein. He is not able to come inside the House. He is telling the country not to panic, when he himself is panicked,” Gandhi said.

Leaders of the opposition alliance INDIA bloc continued protests in the Parliament complex on Thursday, demanding a discussion on reports of a nationwide shortage of LPG cylinders.

Opposition parties said the reported shortage has affected several parts of the country and sought an explanation from the government.

The LPG supply disruption has been linked to the escalating conflict in West Asia and tensions affecting shipping routes through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy corridor.

In Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, some restaurants have switched to induction cooking to cope with the shortage.

A restaurant owner, Dolraj Gaire, told ANI that businesses were adapting to the situation. “We are trying to make it work with induction. We have already done about 60 per cent of our work this way, and the rest will be managed soon once we get more induction equipment,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Centre said domestic LPG production has increased by about 25 per cent and that the entire domestic output is being directed toward household consumers.

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The government added that supplies of non-domestic LPG are being prioritised for essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions.