On the second day of the debate in the Rajya Sabha on the working of the Rural Development Ministry on Wednesday (March 11, 2026), Opposition parties took up issues such as cooking gas and fuel shortage across the country, particularly in rural areas. The MPs alleged that the foreign policy of the Narendra Modi government led to such a situation and sought immediate intervention to address the crisis.
Member V. Sivadasan of CPI(M) said the government reduced the subsidy to solar and wind energy and forced people to use LPG connections through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojanascheme. “Now, after the American aggression on Iran, LPG price is skyrocketing,” he said. He added that though Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a friend of United States President Donald Trump, people of India have no use of it. “Thousands of hotels in rural India have been shut down. Women are crying,” Mr. Sivadasan said.
