Parliament Budget Session 2026 Highlights: Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri says ‘no shortage’, have enough supplies of fuel

Parliament Budget Session 2026 Live Updates: Amid furore over reported LPG shortage in the country due to the Middle East conflict, Union Minister for Petroleum, Hardeep Singh Puri denied any such issue. After Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the Centre over the “shortage”, Puri said LPG production has been increased in the last five days. Puri also accused the Opposition of rumour mongering and spreading fake narrative. Despite having no role in causing the (West Asia) conflict, India has to navigate through its consequences, Puri said. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed the Lok Sabha and said US-Israel and Iran are at war; this war is going to have far-reaching consequences. Gandhi said, “The foundation of every single nation is its energy security. And I do not say this lightly, but allowing the United States to decide who we buy oil from, who we buy gas from, or whether we can buy oil from Russia or not—whether our relationships with different oil suppliers can be decided by us—this is what has been bartered. This is a very puzzling fact for me. Why would a nation the size of India allow any other country, or the president of another nation, to give us permission to buy Russian oil or decide who our relationships should be with?” A while ago, Gandhi on Thursday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid concerns over reported LPG shortage, saying the PM is asking the people not to panic but is himself panicked for “completely different reasons”. He made the remarks after several opposition MPs, including himself and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, staged a protest in the Parliament House complex over the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders to demand answers from the government over it. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told PTI, “After a two-day discussion on the no-confidence motion against Om Birla, the Speaker pointed out certain observations. I was hoping that the House proceedings would be conducted peacefully today. However, the Congress has not learnt its lesson. Today, LoP Rahul Gandhi submitted a letter to the Speaker stating that he wanted to hold a discussion on the reported LPG shortage. After discussions, we asked him when he wanted to discuss the issue... The Petroleum Minister was asked to prepare a response. Rahul Gandhi was given special permission to speak. Even then, he started talking about various other issues instead of the LPG issue.” Lok Sabha discusses Supplementary Demands for Grants Reacting to Petroleum and Energy Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's defence against LPG crisis, Congress MP Tariq Anwar says, "See, what Puri sahab said, nobody would believe, because people are facing, the ground reality is that food is not getting cooked at home... but they are patting their backs, what LoP said that it is a matter of public concern, but he was interrupted midway." Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri says, “...This is not the moment for rumour-mongering or fake narratives. India is navigating the most severe global energy disruption in recorded history. Fuel supply is flowing, gas is prioritised for homes and farms, and LPG production has been stepped up by 28%. Consumer prices are being held far below what market trends and regional competitors would otherwise dictate. Schools are open and petrol is available at fuel stations... India must stand united behind the energy workers, behind the institutions managing the crisis, and behind the national interest. The record of preparation and the record of response speak for themselves...” On talks of LS LoP Rahul Gandhi not allowed to speak in the Parliament, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal told PTI, "Actually the country witnessed that, LoP raising the most important energy crisis which is happening in this country. So while he is raising this, he made a serious remarks that our Petroleum Minister is completely compromised. That's what he mentioned. With evidence, he want to mention it with evidence. That he will tell to the people. Nobody can stop Rahul Gandhi for saying truth. He will tell to the people." As Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri continues his address in Lok Sabha, Opposition MPs raise slogans. Due to PM's diplomatic outreach, India secured crude volumes that exceed what the disrupted Strait could have delivered in same period, said Puri Fuel retail outlets stocked, supply chains normal, said Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri in Lok Sabha Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed the Lok Sabha and said US-Israel and Iran are at war; this war is going to have far-reaching consequences. Gandhi said, “The foundation of every single nation is its energy security. And I do not say this lightly, but allowing the United States to decide who we buy oil from, who we buy gas from, or whether we can buy oil from Russia or not—whether our relationships with different oil suppliers can be decided by us—this is what has been bartered. This is a very puzzling fact for me. Why would a nation the size of India allow any other country, or the president of another nation, to give us permission to buy Russian oil or decide who our relationships should be with?” Amid furore over reported LPG shortage in the country due to the Middle East conflict, Union Minister for Petroleum, Hardeep Singh Puri denied any such issue. After Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the Centre over the “shortage”, Puri said LPG production has been increased in the last five days. Despite having no role in causing the (West Asia) conflict, India has to navigate through its consequences, Puri said. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday said the members of the House debated the no-confidence motion against the Speaker for over 12 hours across two days. It was the third time in the parliamentary history of independent India that such an extensive debate had taken place on a motion of no-confidence against the Speaker, he told the house. A no-confidence motion against Lok Speaker Om Birla was defeated Wednesday during Budget session of Parliament. This proposal should be dismissed with a majority, and the Lok Sabha should function under Birla ji’s Speakership, Shah said, ending his speech. Shah accused the Congress of protesting at the AI Summit after “taking off their clothes” in front of foreign dignitaries. “In their opposition to the BJP, they have begun to oppose Bharat,” he charged. Referring to Gaurav Gogoi’s charge that the government was not ready to discuss the China issue, Shah said that China captured Aksai Chin in Nehru’s time, and Nehru said that not a blade of grass grows there. Shah said that in the winter session of 2025, he was in Germany. Similarly, he counted multiple sessions of Parliament when Gandhi was abroad. “When sessions come, he plans foreign trips. So, how will he speak here from abroad? There is no provision for video conference, otherwise we could have allowed it,” Shah said. Shah said that Gandhi did not take part in most debates on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, discussion on the budget, and Bills. He did not take part in discussions on the most important Bills, he added. “He does not want to speak,” Shah asserted. Shah said that Rahul Gandhi’s attendance in the 17th Lok Sabha was 51-percent, though the national average was 67 per cent. In the 16th Lok Sabha, his attendance was 52-% while the national average was 80-%, he asserted, adding that in the 15th Lok Sabha, his attendance was 43-percent while the national average was 76-percent. Taking a dig at Gandhi’s past challenge that his press conference be discussed – during Shah’s speech in the past – Shah said that the Speaker did a service to the House by cutting him short, as never had a leader’s press conference been discussed by the House, which discusses what is decided beforehand. He pointed out that the LoP chose not to speak even in the present debate, and when he does speak, he does know how to speak as per Rules. As for the Speaker cutting him short, Shah wondered what option the Speaker has when Rahul Gandhi keeps repeating what the Speaker says is against the Rules. He asserted that if we compare the seats of the Congress and the BJP in the 17th Lok Sabha, the Congress got six times the number of hours to speak vis-a-vis the BJP. Even in the 18th Lok Sabha, they got double the time, he said. As for the Leader of the Opposition, he said, he had to decide how much to use his party’s time to speak, but he is in Germany or England when there is time to speak. Shah said that there was a propaganda to destroy the image of the BJP by saying that opposition members were not being allowed to speak. “It is not the BJP but the chair who decides who speaks and how much. We are not silencing the opposition; that was done in 1975 when the whole opposition was jailed,” Shah said. Shah said that no Speaker apart from Birla had allowed members to raise questions at midnight. “You filled the Deputy Speaker post with your own person and now accuse us? We have at least kept it vacant for you,” Shah said. Shah pointed that 80-% of the opposition speeches were not against the Speaker but against the government, though there are several Rules under which one can criticise the government. He said that while the opposition says there is no Deputy Speaker now, in 1954 and 1966, when no-confidence motions were brought, the Deputy Speaker was from the ruling party, the Congress. Shah pointed that even Union minister Giriraj Singh’s mic was switched off when he was speaking against Pappu Yadav, adding that the mic is not switched off only when opposition members speak; rather, it is switched off whenever anyone violates the rules. HM Amit Shah said that the notice of KC Venugopal wrote 2025 instead of 2026 when he gave notice with 119 signatures. He then took it back and gave another, and in the next one, except Gaurav Gogoi’s signature, all other signatures were in xerox, Shah said, accusing the Congress of being non-serious and also not reading the Rules. He said that perhaps they initially wanted the notice to be rejected, but Birla gave them two chances to correct their notice.aid that the notice of KC Venugopal wrote 2025 instead of 2026 when he gave notice with 119 signatures. He then took it back and gave another, and in the next one, except Gaurav Gogoi’s signature, all other signatures were in xerox, Shah said, accusing the Congress of being non-serious and also not reading the Rules. He said that perhaps they initially wanted the notice to be rejected, but Birla gave them two chances to correct their notice. He recalled that in the past no-confidence motions against the Speaker, all in the times of the Congress, the Speakers did not preside only during the debate, but Birla on moral grounds chose not to take part in all proceedings till the motion was disposed of. “There is no Emergency that you should have special rights here,” Shah said. I understand that someone’s advisors can be activities, but they will have to follow the procedure of the House here, Shah said, in an oblique dig at Rahul Gandhi. He said that women MPs cannot come close to the Prime Minister’s chair. As regards the complaints that what opposition leaders say is expunged, Shah said that unparliamentary words have to be expunged. “But here they want any language they use to be retained. The House does not function like this,” he asserted. He asserted that even the Supreme Court cannot judge the ruling of the Speaker, and this has been the rule so that he can function independently, Shah said, adding that maintaining the decorum of the House is part of the Speaker’s duty. “If I discuss the impending end of Maoism in this debate, the Chair will ask me to sit down. Why do seniors like Shashi Tharoor and Balu ji teach them what to do?”, Shah asked. Shah asserted that the BJP in opposition never brought a no-confidence motion against the Speaker. “Which alliance are the ones who brought the three no-confidence motions in the past part of? With the opposition of today,” Shah said. Everyone can speak here, but the House isn’t a mela, Shah said, adding that everyone has to speak as per the Rules. When you break the Rules, it is the duty of the Speaker to stop you and also throw you out, Shah asserted. He added that the Rules were not made by this government; that they have been continuing since the days of Nehru. Shah averred that while the government or Opposition may like or dislike the Speaker’s ruling, none can question his integrity. Under the rules of the Lok Sabha, the Speaker’s ruling is considered final; yet, the opposition questioned his intent, Shah said. When the head of this House is questioned, the world questions our democracy, Shah said, adding that it’s better to talk it out in his chamber. He added that when the opposition goes to the chamber of the Speaker, the atmosphere is such that one worries that the Speaker’s safety should not be the matter of concern. Home Minister Amit Shah said the Speaker does not belong to a party; he belongs to all and protects their rights. So, no-confidence against the Speaker is not an ordinary thing, he added. Forty-two MPs took part in the debate over 13 hours, he underlined. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi targeted the Central government while speaking in favour of the no confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla Wednesday in Lok Sabha. He said, "Our country has Separation of Powers, but we are seeing that the Executive is routinely taking over the Legislature." Owaisi mentioned the Executive should introspect why this motion is passed after 40 years in the house. "We have a marauding Executive which wants to overpower and take over the Speaker", he added. Sanjay Singh, senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) representing Delhi for AAP said in the Rajya Sabha that allotting mere 3.6% of the total 2026-27 Budget to rural development by the Union government shows what are their aspirations on the matter. Singh also commented on GoI's Jal Jeevan Mission initiative and alleged that the funds invested for rural development were wasted in digging village roads under the scheme. "Tanks and pipelines under Jal Jeevan Mission get damaged", he added. Singh, while comparing last and this Budget session's allocation to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), also accused the union government of being obscure in its plan to run the scheme. Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi said on Wednesday that curbing the voice of Opposition is an act of 'stripping' the democracy, morality and law, similar to the act of 'vastra haran' of Draupadi that led to the battle of 'Mahabharatha'. "Suppressing opposition's voices in the Parliament is 'vastra haran' of democracy, morals, civilisation and country's law", he said while delivering his speech in favour of the no-confidence motion passed against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla by the Opposition in Parliament. On PM Narendra Modi meeting Union Ministers Hardeep Puri and S Jaishankar over commercial LPG cylinder shortage, Congress MP Ujjwal Raman Singh says, "The government is not prepared and they are putting a burden on the common man. Had they have any preparation, people would have known... They are saving everything in their homes to survive the war times... The government does not worry about the people..." > #watch | Delhi | On PM Narendra Modi meeting Union Ministers Hardeep Puri and S Jaishankar over commercial LPG cylinder shortage, Congress MP Ujjwal Raman Singh says, "The government is not prepared and they are putting a burden on the common man. Had they have any preparation,… pic.twitter.com/ZaZWUWHZU3— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2026 #watch | Delhi | On PM Narendra Modi meeting Union Ministers Hardeep Puri and S Jaishankar over commercial LPG cylinder shortage, Congress MP Ujjwal Raman Singh says, "The government is not prepared and they are putting a burden on the common man. Had they have any preparation,… pic.twitter.com/ZaZWUWHZU3 Despite having low numbers, Om Birla gave you 56% (of the total time of the House) to speak — BJP MP Anurag Thakur on motion to remove Om Birla The House stands with Speaker Om Birla...First timers, who were not allowed to speak by their own parties were given a chance by Om Birla — BJP MP Anurag Thakur on motion to remove Om Birla Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday said the government has created a constitutional vacuum by failing to elect a deputy speaker of Lok Sabha. He said that allowing a panel chairperson, nominated by the very speaker against whom a no-confidence motion was being moved, to preside over the House defeats the purpose of Article 96 of the Constitution. Article 96 bars the speaker from presiding over proceedings concerning his own removal to preserve neutrality, Gogoi said. — PTI Congress MP KC Venugopal tells the chair, as he responds to BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's comments on Tuesday during debate, said, "Filthy things were said about LoP in the House, but you did not stop that." > VIDEO | Parliament Session: Congress MP KC Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) tells the chair, as he responds to BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's comments on Tuesday during debate, said, "Filthy things were said about LoP in the House, but you did not stop that." (Full video available on PTI… pic.twitter.com/2Y5hjhI8Yr— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 11, 2026 VIDEO | Parliament Session: Congress MP KC Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) tells the chair, as he responds to BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's comments on Tuesday during debate, said, "Filthy things were said about LoP in the House, but you did not stop that." (Full video available on PTI… pic.twitter.com/2Y5hjhI8Yr Govt has turned this country's policy making platform into its advertising portal. They are manipulating chair to silence Oppn. — TMC MP Sayani Ghosh on motion to remove Om Birla I have seen ideologies being sidelined, opinions being crushed and Oppn voices being throttled — TMC MP Sayani Ghosh on motion to remove Om Birla LoP was not given freedom to share in Parliament about concern on defence security — KC Venugopal on motion to remove Om Birla Government wants to create opportunity for PM not coming to Parliament through Speaker — KC Venugopal on motion to remove Om Birla Time will come when people will teach you a lesson. You are destroying democracy. — KC Venugopal on motion to remove Om Birla Opposition voice has been curtailed in House — KC Venugopal on motion to remove Om Birla When Opposition asks for point of order, we are not allowed but when ruling party wants, they are allowed. — KC Venugopal on motion to remove Om Birla Rajya Sabha adjourned to meet again at 2 PM Minister Nitin Gadkari replies to the questions asked by memebers during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha regarding Connectivity and infrastructure development in Kolhapur. > #budgetsession2026Minister @nitin_gadkari replies to the questions asked by memebers during #questionhour in #rajyasabha regarding Connectivity and infrastructure development in Kolhapur@VPIndia@MORTHIndia pic.twitter.com/k4AYm3mgJv— SansadTV (@sansad_tv) March 11, 2026 #budgetsession2026Minister @nitin_gadkari replies to the questions asked by memebers during #questionhour in #rajyasabha regarding Connectivity and infrastructure development in Kolhapur@VPIndia@MORTHIndia pic.twitter.com/k4AYm3mgJv AAP leader Raghav Chaddha says, “Today in the House, I raised the issue of mobile phone users in the country who operate their phones through prepaid recharges, and I made two important points. First, when your recharge expires, and the validity is over, it is understandable that outgoing calls are stopped. However, stopping incoming calls as well is not appropriate. This is an arbitrary practice by telecom companies, and it should be stopped.” > VIDEO | Parliament Session: AAP leader Raghav Chaddha (@raghav_chadha) says, “Today in the House, I raised the issue of mobile phone users in the country who operate their phones through prepaid recharges, and I made two important points. First, when your recharge expires, and… pic.twitter.com/vvv3IhOnpR— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 11, 2026 VIDEO | Parliament Session: AAP leader Raghav Chaddha (@raghav_chadha) says, “Today in the House, I raised the issue of mobile phone users in the country who operate their phones through prepaid recharges, and I made two important points. First, when your recharge expires, and… pic.twitter.com/vvv3IhOnpR There is no disbelief on the Speaker; motion has been moved to satisfy someone's ego — Ravi Shankar Prasad "Discussion about democratic process and role of Speaker but multiple times my name is being raised, things being said about me," says Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha. > VIDEO | Parliament Session: "Discussion about democratic process and role of Speaker but multiple times my name is being raised, things being said about me," says Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) in Lok Sabha.(Source: Third Party)(Full video… pic.twitter.com/zXGUJpCv9g— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 11, 2026 VIDEO | Parliament Session: "Discussion about democratic process and role of Speaker but multiple times my name is being raised, things being said about me," says Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) in Lok Sabha.(Source: Third Party)(Full video… pic.twitter.com/zXGUJpCv9g I have been stopped from speaking (in Parliament) multiple times — Rahul Gandhi This House does not represent one party, but the whole country — Rahul Gandhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Dinesh Sharma, on Wednesday, commented on the implementation of women's reservation in the parliament, affirming that women's empowerment remains a top priority for the ruling government. Sharma stated that the benefits of this policy, whether in State Assemblies, the Lok Sabha, or other elections, will significantly empower women. This is the intention of the government. "Women empowerment is one of the top priorities of the current government. The way women's reservation has been implemented in parliamentary systems, its direct benefit--whether in the state assembly or the Lok Sabha or any election--can be availed, and the effort to empower women can move forward; this is precisely the government's intention..." Sharma told ANI. — ANI Member of Parliament Tejasvi Surya on Wednesday took to X and informed, "The reports of a shortage of LPG cylinders and its possible disruption to the hotel industry have been communicated to Hon. Minister Shri HardeepSPuri Ji." > The reports of a shortage of LPG cylinders and its possible disruption to the hotel industry have been communicated to Hon. Minister Shri @HardeepSPuri Ji.The Minister has constituted a high priority panel to ensure LPG supply is uninterrupted to non domestic users, including… https://t.co/zcTeFi4Tv3 pic.twitter.com/H79lhi5Jah— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) March 10, 2026 The reports of a shortage of LPG cylinders and its possible disruption to the hotel industry have been communicated to Hon. Minister Shri @HardeepSPuri Ji.The Minister has constituted a high priority panel to ensure LPG supply is uninterrupted to non domestic users, including… https://t.co/zcTeFi4Tv3 pic.twitter.com/H79lhi5Jah Let the instrument of Opposition against the Speaker be not weaponised to satisfy the ego of some leader or some group — Ravi Shankar Prasad Lok Sabha proceedings resume after being adjourned till 12 noon amid shrill protests by Opposition MPs on various issues, including rising LPG prices. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw replies to the questions asked by members during Question Hour in Lok Sabha regarding effects of artificial intelligence-powered toys on children. > #budgetsession2026 Union Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw replies to the questions asked by members during #questionhour in #loksabha regarding Effects of Artificial Intelligence Powered Toys on Children.@LokSabhaSectt @RailMinIndia @loksabhaspeaker pic.twitter.com/bn8nH99H0e— SansadTV (@sansad_tv) March 11, 2026 #budgetsession2026 Union Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw replies to the questions asked by members during #questionhour in #loksabha regarding Effects of Artificial Intelligence Powered Toys on Children.@LokSabhaSectt @RailMinIndia @loksabhaspeaker pic.twitter.com/bn8nH99H0e Congress MPs on Wednesday protested in the Parliament premises over the alleged shortage of commercial LPG cylinder across the country. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also joined the protest. The Opposition MPs carried the banners saying, "PM is compromised." The INDIA bloc leaders have sought a discussion on the reported shortage of LPG amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia. — ANI The Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 12 noon amid ruckus by Members of Parliament over rising LPG prices. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw replies to the questions asked by members during Question Hour in Lok Sabha regarding implementation of Kavach Project. > #budgetsession2026Union Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw replies to the questions asked by members during #questionhour in #loksabha regarding Implementation of Kavach Project.@LokSabhaSectt @RailMinIndia @loksabhaspeaker pic.twitter.com/iRIxzi3rrc— SansadTV (@sansad_tv) March 11, 2026 #budgetsession2026Union Minister @AshwiniVaishnaw replies to the questions asked by members during #questionhour in #loksabha regarding Implementation of Kavach Project.@LokSabhaSectt @RailMinIndia @loksabhaspeaker pic.twitter.com/iRIxzi3rrc Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) create ruckus in Lok Sabha over rising LPG prices amid the ongoing Middle-East crisis. After being adjourned for the day on Tuesday, proceedings resumed in Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The second leg of the Budget session of Parliament is set to begin Monday on a turbulent note, with the Lok Sabha likely to take up an Opposition resolution seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla, the first such attempt against a presiding officer of the House in nearly four decades. Read full report here Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address the Lok Sabha on Wednesday during the debate on the motion seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla. The motion was moved by Congress MP Mohammad Jawed, with more than 50 MPs standing in support of the resolution. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was in the Chair, granted leave to move the motion and announced that 10 hours had been allotted for debate, and asked MPs to stick to the resolution. He said that the Speaker was generous with the permissions and procedure for the Opposition resolution. A total of 118 Opposition MPs signed the resolution, alleging "partisan behaviour" by the Speaker. — ANI