MENU

‘Total Brotality’: LPG ‘shortage’ fires spat between Shehzad and Tehseen Poonawalla

Manisha Gupta

A sharp political exchange erupted on social media as BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla launched a scathing attack on political analyst and his brother Tehseen Poonawalla over his claims of a looming LPG shortage in India amid global tensions.

The war of words unfolded after Tehseen Poonawalla warned that the ongoing geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran could disrupt supply chains and trigger an LPG crisis in India.

Shehzad fires back with ‘point-by-point rebuttal’

Calling Tehseen ‘Congress’s most sophisticated weapon,’ Shehzad Poonawalla posted a lengthy rebuttal on X, accusing Tehseen and the “Congress ecosystem” of spreading panic and misinformation.

“For Tehseen Poonawalla and the Congress ecosystem, LPG means Lies, Panic and Goalpost Shifting,” the BJP leader wrote, claiming he was presenting a “point-by-point rebuttal on Lashkar-e-Rahul.”

In a video response, Shehzad argued that India currently has 7–8 weeks of crude oil and petroleum product reserves, supported by strategic petroleum reserves that he said were not built during the tenure of the Indian National Congress-led UPA government.

“During the UPA regime, such reserves did not exist and there were even discussions about shutting petrol pumps at 7 or 8 pm,” he said.

Shehzad also claimed that despite major global shocks such as the Russia-Ukraine War and the current tensions in West Asia, the government had ensured stable fuel prices and supply.

According to him, India has diversified its crude oil sources so that nearly 60 per cent of imports now come from regions outside conflict-affected areas, reducing dependence on routes linked to the Strait of Hormuz.

He further argued that the government has adopted multiple strategies to strengthen energy security, including expanding reserves, diversifying imports, promoting electric vehicles, and introducing 20 per cent ethanol blending in fuel.

Tehseen flagged LPG shortage risk

On March 10, Tehseen Poonawalla alleged that India could face an energy crisis due to heavy dependence on imports through the Strait of Hormuz.

“We have an #LPGGas shortage, an #EnergyCrisis and the Government of India is busy raiding restaurants and hotels instead of supporting them and sending 5000 tonnes of diesel to Bangladesh,” he said.

The political analyst claimed that 80–85 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making the country vulnerable to disruptions in the event of escalating conflict in West Asia.

He also criticised the Centre’s handling of the issue and launched a personal attack on Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, calling him “the most incompetent minister ever in the history of independent India to head this industry.”

Shehzad dismisses LPG storage claims

Addressing claims of LPG shortages, Shehzad said comparisons with crude oil reserves were misleading.

“Crude oil is in liquid form and can be stored easily in large strategic reserves. LPG and CNG are gases and require specialised cryogenic or high-pressure storage systems,” he said.

While acknowledging that a significant share of India’s LPG imports passes through the Strait of Hormuz, he maintained that supply to consumers remained secure and there was no shortage in the country.

Family feud spills into political debate

The exchange has drawn attention on social media not only for its political intensity but also because it pits two brothers on opposing sides of India’s political spectrum.

While Tehseen Poonawalla has often been critical of the ruling government and appears in television debates as a political commentator, Shehzad Poonawalla is a prominent spokesperson of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Their latest clash reflects the broader political debate over India’s energy security and the potential impact of geopolitical conflicts on fuel supplies.

Also Read