Ahmedabad: A political spar broke out on social media platform X between Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh after the latter targeted the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central Government over India’s rising dependence on crude oil, LPG and natural gas imports.

The exchange began after Jairam Ramesh criticised the Centre’s energy policy, saying India’s import dependence on crude oil rose from 84% in 2014–15 to 90% in 2024–25, while LPG imports increased from 46% to 62%. “All this when the mantra was supposed to Atmanirbharta,” he said on X.

Ramesh also referred to the 2005 gas discovery by Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) in the Krishna-Godavari basin and alleged that the project later turned into a scam, claiming audit reports had raised serious questions about the announcement that India would become energy independent.

Reacting to the remarks, Harsh Sanghavi hit back on X and asked the Congress leader to check facts before making allegations.
“Gujarat CM Narendra Modi Ji did announce that GSPC made a big gas discovery in the KG Basin. But you know who backed him up? -UPA’s Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar who said KG Basin finding reinforces his belief that Bay of Bengal is the North Sea of South Asia! – Also the mining lease of that block granted to GSPC was granted by UPA Govt in Dec 2012. Not by Modi Govt! So who are you alleging scam against?” he wrote, questioning who the Congress was accusing of wrongdoing.

In a series of posts, Sanghavi said the discovery was one of the biggest gas finds in decades, but production faced technical challenges in deep-water exploration. “The real issue was technical challenges in exploration, not a scam.” Harsh said stating that ONGC later acquired the block to use its offshore expertise, and gas has been produced from the field.

Sanghavi also accused the Congress of taking contradictory stands, writing, “It was the same Congress party in 2011 which dismissed CAG reports on the KG Basin, claiming there was no corruption!”

“Now in 2026, they suddenly discover a “scam”? Who should we believe: Congress of 2011 or Congress of 2026? And is he saying UPA Govt took bribe to allot gas field to BJP ruled state govt?” he added.

Targeting the previous UPA government, Sanghavi further said, “Another fact that Jairam Ramesh conveniently ignores is that UPA’s policy paralaysis led to stagnation of gas Production stagnated in 2010.”

Sanghavi stated that reforms introduced by the Modi government under the HELP policy gave incentives for deep-water exploration, and gas production has increased in recent years.

Highlighting the Centre’s energy initiatives, Sanghavi said India has expanded refining capacity, built strategic oil reserves and diversified energy sourcing, adding that self-reliance in energy is a gradual process and the current government’s reforms are showing results.

“Atmanirbharta is work in progress, not Congress-style jumla,” he added.

The spar comes amid the volatile energy sector across the world after the start of the war involving the US, Israel and Iran. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on March 26 released details of the country’s crude oil, fuel and LPG reserves for the first time since the conflict in West Asia began, in an effort to ease public concerns.

The government said India currently has crude oil stocks sufficient for about 60 days and has secured LPG supplies for one month. It also clarified that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG in the country, and described reports suggesting shortages as a “deliberate misinformation campaign” intended to create panic buying. DeshGujarat

Modi Govt’s Reforms are delivering:

▪️OALP + Mission Anveshan: 54 discoveries (2020-25)
▪️Refining capacity: 215 MMTPA → 258 MMTPA (heading to 400)
▪️Strategic Oil reserves: 5.33 MMT built + 6.5 MMT underway
▪️Energy sourcing diversified to 41 countries

From energy shortage… pic.twitter.com/7kzVpWEudW

— Harsh Sanghavi (@sanghaviharsh) March 27, 2026

Between 2014/15 and 2024/25, India’s dependence on crude oil imports went up from 84% to 90%.

Between 2014/15 and 2024/25, India’s dependence on LPG imports went up from 46% to 62%.

All this when the mantra was supposed to Atmanirbharta.

The natural gas story is murkier.

On…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 27, 2026