Congress Raises Alarm Over LPG Crisis in Chhattisgarh Assembly
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Raipur, March 12 (NationPress) The Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly was engulfed in turmoil on Thursday as members of the opposition Congress party launched a passionate protest concerning the alleged LPG cylinder shortage in the region, which they attributed to the ongoing strife in West Asia between Iran and Israel.
During the Zero Hour, the Leader of the Opposition, Charan Das Mahant, drew attention to the significant challenges confronting over 3.6 million domestic LPG users in Chhattisgarh.
He accused the state government of neglecting to curb black marketing and hoarding, despite prior commitments from Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai that shortages would not arise.
Mahant highlighted that prices increased shortly after these assurances, worsening the hardships faced by the public.
He proposed an adjournment motion calling for an in-depth discussion on this matter and urged the state to implement stringent measures to ensure a steady supply.
When their request for debate was rejected, Congress legislators entered the Well of the House, chanting slogans and causing a disruption in proceedings.
The Speaker, adhering to assembly regulations, initially suspended 30 Congress members, though this suspension was later lifted, leading to a brief five-minute adjournment of the House.
Upon reconvening, Mahant reiterated his concerns, stressing the ramifications for everyday households. Senior Congress figure and former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel strongly supported the protest.
While recognizing that LPG supply is a critical issue, he emphasized the state government's duty to address local challenges such as black marketing, hoarding, and inequitable distribution.
Baghel demanded clarity from the government regarding the current stocks of both domestic and commercial LPG cylinders, as well as measures to enhance supply.
He noted that the West Asia conflict has disrupted daily life across the nation, with shortages being reported in various states.
Commercial gas supplies have been especially affected, resulting in nearly 50% of hotels in major cities shutting down, including some in Chhattisgarh.
India, heavily dependent on imports, has experienced price hikes and has prioritized household distribution, squeezing commercial users and igniting protests in assemblies and Parliament.