Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju today criticised the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for deviating the House from the issue he had sought to raise. Talking to the media in the Parliament premises, Mr Rijiju said that Mr Gandhi had written to the Speaker highlighting the issue of reported LPG shortage in the country.

Mr Rijiju noted that the Speaker immediately informed the government that a special request had been received from the Leader of the Opposition. The Minister said, despite the House being engaged in discussions on Supplementary Demands for Grants, the Speaker took cognisance of the letter and allowed Mr Gandhi to speak on the matter.

Mr Rijiju added that although Mr Gandhi had submitted the notice to speak on the issue of LPG, he instead started making personal attacks on Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.