Congress attacks Modi govt as LPG shortage triggers long queues
Says decisions on Indian oil imports now influenced by US
New Delhi: The Indian National Congress has launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led government over reports of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) shortages and long queues outside gas agencies in several parts of the country, stating that India’s energy decisions are increasingly being influenced by the United States.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Congress compared the situation with earlier crises during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure, when citizens were forced to stand in long queues, including during the 2016 Indian demonetisation drive and the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, Congress leader Alka Lamba criticised the government for failing to prepare for the impact of the ongoing West Asia conflict on India’s energy security. “During Narendra Modi’s tenure, demonetisation forced the entire country to stand in lines. During COVID, people stood in queues for oxygen and even at cremation grounds. Now there is a shortage of LPG and people are again standing in long lines,” she said.
She further said that decisions on when and from where India imports oil are now being influenced by the United States. “Narendra Modi has completely surrendered to save himself, because America is scaring and blackmailing Narendra Modi by showing the Epstein files,” she said.
She also said that Congress leaders protesting the issue were detained by police and warned not to continue demonstrations outside the residence of Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, adding that the party would continue to raise its voice against what she called interference in India’s energy decisions.
Meanwhile, Congress MPs, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, staged protests in the Indian Parliament on Wednesday over the LPG shortage and the broader fuel crisis. Protesters carried banners reading “PM is compromised” and demanded an urgent parliamentary debate on the LPG shortage, rising prices, and the impact of the West Asia conflict on India’s energy imports.
Videos and images circulating on social media showed residents in cities such as Noida, Lucknow, Deoria, Vijayapura, Delhi, Bhubaneswar, and Pune standing in long queues outside LPG distribution centres amid concerns over limited availability of refills.
The shortages have reportedly also affected commercial LPG supplies used by hotels and restaurants in major cities such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. Hospitality associations warned that many establishments may be forced to scale down operations or temporarily close due to difficulties in securing gas cylinders, with some switching to induction stoves or reducing menu items to manage the disruption. KMS-1S
