LPG Price Hike Sparks Political Firestorm: Opposition Blasts Modi Govt.

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar has strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's handling of gas and fuel price hikes, warning that the ruling party will "pay a political price" for steadily disturbing household budgets. Speaking in Baramati, Pawar accused the government of increasing prices in a phased manner to avoid immediate public backlash, noting how small initial hikes have accumulated significantly.

This political outrage comes as domestic cooking gas prices have increased by ₹29 per cylinder recently, marking the second such hike in the past three months. Consumers in cities like Chennai are particularly affected, with an LPG domestic cylinder now costing ₹957.50. This represents a substantial increase of ₹89 per 14.2 kg cylinder within a mere three months, leaving many consumers shocked and dismayed. Customers who had already booked refills but not yet received them will still have to pay the revised, higher rate.

Opposition parties are quick to draw parallels with past situations. Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar alleged that the BJP, which vociferously protested fuel and gas price hikes during the previous Congress government, is now silent despite similar or even steeper increases. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge further questioned Prime Minister Modi's earlier claims in Parliament about diversifying fuel sources to counter global price fluctuations, asking what became of those assurances. He specifically challenged the BJP leaders to take to the streets with cylinders in protest, mirroring their actions when in opposition.

In response, the government has defended its stance, stating that despite the recent increases, domestic LPG rates in India remain among the world's lowest. They attribute the rise to a surge in international prices following the outbreak of conflict in West Asia, claiming that the cost of supplying a domestic LPG cylinder has soared to over ₹1,600.

This situation highlights a growing concern over household expenditure and puts the government under renewed scrutiny regarding its economic policies and ability to manage inflation. The opposition clearly sees an opportunity to rally public sentiment against the ruling party on an issue that directly impacts millions of households.

#LPGPriceHike #IndianPolitics #CostOfLivingCrisis