New Delhi, Mar 16 (UNI) Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday raised concerns over a potential LPG supply crisis in India, warning that disruptions linked to the ongoing tensions in West Asia could severely affect domestic availability and prices of cooking gas across the country.
Speaking in the Upper House, Kharge said the situation was causing “widespread distress” among households, small businesses and commercial establishments, and urged the government to take urgent steps to ensure stable supply and curb black marketing.
“The issue I wish to raise is of such importance that I must request a little extra time to draw the government’s attention to the looming LPG crisis in the country triggered by the ongoing conflict in West Asia,” Kharge said during the discussion.
He noted that India imports nearly 60 per cent of its total LPG requirements and that around 90 per cent of these imports pass through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy shipping route. According to him, any disruption along this route due to geopolitical tensions could directly affect India’s domestic energy supply.
“The LPG crisis has caused widespread distress across the country. It has gravely affected the poor and vulnerable sections, the middle class, ordinary households, restaurants, hostels and commercial users alike,” Kharge said. “From roadside dhabas to community kitchens such as Ram Rasoi, many establishments are facing severe shortages or have been forced to shut down temporarily.”
He claimed that several small eateries, hostels and commercial kitchens were struggling to procure LPG cylinders and that some users were being forced to purchase them in the open market at prices exceeding Rs 5,000 per cylinder.
The Congress leader also questioned the government’s assertion that there was no shortage of LPG. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had earlier stated in the Lok Sabha that there was adequate supply and urged people not to believe rumours regarding shortages.
“Our Honourable Minister of Petroleum claimed that there is no shortage of LPG and advised people not to believe rumours, but the ground reality stands in stark contradiction to these claims,” Kharge said.
He further argued that the government should have anticipated possible supply disruptions given the deteriorating situation in West Asia and taken advance steps to diversify imports and build reserves.
“When the government issued advisories to Indian citizens regarding the situation in Iran, it should also have clarified that such tensions could affect critical maritime routes and energy supplies,” Kharge said. “If advance planning and alternative arrangements had been made in time, the situation would not have become so serious.”
Kharge also pointed to supply restrictions imposed on industries, saying industrial consumers were reportedly receiving only 80 per cent of their average supply over the past six months, while fertiliser plants had been restricted to 70 per cent. Refineries and petrochemical units were also facing supply curbs, he added.
The opposition leader criticised recent price increases in LPG cylinders, noting that domestic cylinder prices had been raised by Rs 60 while commercial cylinders had seen a hike of Rs 115.
“If the government’s claims are correct and the shortfall has been compensated through alternative procurement, then why are these restrictions being imposed and why have prices been increased?” he asked.
Kharge further warned that extended waiting periods for cylinder bookings were contributing to panic buying and hoarding. “The waiting period has increased from 21 to 25 days in urban areas and from 25 to 45 days in remote rural areas. This is fuelling hoarding and panic booking,” he said.
Calling for greater transparency, Kharge urged the government to take Parliament and the Opposition into confidence on the issue and to implement strict measures against black marketing.
“This crisis exposes not only weaknesses in administrative management but also deeper gaps in our foreign and energy policy framework,” he said. “It is the government’s responsibility to ensure stable, accessible and affordable LPG for the poor, the middle class and small traders across the country.”
The remarks come amid rising global concerns over energy supply chains linked to geopolitical tensions in West Asia, a region that plays a crucial role in global oil and gas transportation.
