Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 16: The ongoing shortage of LPG cylinders across the country has triggered sharp criticism from opposition leaders, with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge highlighting hardships faced by ordinary citizens.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Akhilesh Yadav slammed the government for forcing people to wait in long queues for gas cylinders. He said those who once envisioned India as a “Vishwaguru” should not subject citizens to such difficulties. Drawing parallels with past crises, he noted, “During demonetisation in 2016, people stood in lines; during the Covid-19 pandemic, there was an oxygen shortage; and now families are again struggling to get LPG.”
Yadav pointed out that in places like Noida, many households are unable to cook meals while waiting for cylinders, with families spending entire days in line. He also urged party workers to document the situation and send photographs to the party headquarters, questioning the government’s claims of adequate supply.
The issue spilled into the Rajya Sabha, where an intense exchange unfolded between Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition, and J.P. Nadda, Leader of the House. Kharge accused the government of mismanaging the energy crisis triggered by the war in the Gulf and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which disrupted global oil and LPG supplies.
Kharge said middle-class and economically weaker families are bearing the brunt of the shortage, with restaurants, hostels, and community kitchens forced to shut operations. He also highlighted skyrocketing prices in the black market and stressed that 60% of India’s LPG is imported, with 90% of that passing through the Strait of Hormuz, exacerbating the supply crunch.
The Congress leader further pointed out that fertiliser production is also being affected, arguing that better planning could have prevented the crisis. He noted that waiting times for LPG cylinders have increased from 21 to 25 days, encouraging hoarding and black-market sales, and criticised the government’s approach as “poor planning and lackadaisical.”
Kharge accused Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri of misrepresenting the state of LPG supply, claiming the reality on the ground was far from the government’s assurances. The heated exchange prompted interventions from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and J.P. Nadda, highlighting the intensity of the debate over the ongoing LPG crisis.