Congress Workers Stage Protest Over LPG Shortage in Delhi, Demand Minister's Resignation
Congress workers on Friday staged a significant protest outside the Indian National Congress headquarters in Delhi, alleging a severe shortage of LPG cylinders across the nation. The demonstrators demanded the immediate resignation of Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, accusing the central government of failing to ensure adequate supply of cooking gas and misleading the public about the situation.
Protesters Highlight Household Struggles with Traditional Cooking Methods
As part of the demonstration, party workers set up a makeshift chulha, or traditional stove, and prepared tea on-site to symbolically represent the difficulties faced by households. They raised slogans against the government, claiming that many families nationwide are struggling to obtain LPG cylinders and have been forced to revert to older cooking methods due to the reported shortage.
A Congress leader present at the protest alleged that the crisis stems from flawed policies of the central government. "The cylinder has disappeared from the kitchen of every household. Due to the wrong policies of the country's Prime Minister, somehow we have been forced into this gas shortage," the leader stated. "Today in the country, people are standing in line for gas cylinders, and some are even fainting there."
Congress Leaders Draw Parallels to Past Crises and Criticize Government Claims
The leader further claimed that the shortage has impacted various establishments, including public canteens. "The condition of the people is such that today even the canteen of the Delhi High Court is closed due to the shortage of gas, but in Parliament they claim there is no shortage," he added. Drawing comparisons to earlier national crises, the Congress leader remarked, "Just as people were made to stand in queues during demonetisation and oxygen shortages during the COVID-19 period, today the whole country is standing in line for gas cylinders."
Congress MP Mohammad Jawed also questioned the government's assertions regarding LPG availability, asking why prices have increased if there is no supply problem. "Be it demonetisation, lockdown, why have the rates of LPG been increased, if there is no problem? Why are people not getting LPG?" he said during the protest.
Another Congress MP, Manoj Kumar, criticized the government over the issue, stating, "Who is responsible for the increase in the price of LPG, the opposition or the government? The nation is watching, and you cannot mislead them."
Police Intervention and Detentions Amid Intensifying Protest
As the protest gained momentum and intensified, personnel from Delhi Police intervened at the scene. Several workers participating in the demonstration were detained by police authorities to manage the situation and maintain public order. The protest underscored growing political tensions over essential commodity supplies and government accountability in addressing citizen concerns.
