Mumbai, March 30 (NationPress) The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) expressed on Monday that the BJP-led Mahayuti government must ensure transparency regarding India's energy reserves rather than intimidating citizens with legal threats for supposedly disseminating rumours and misinformation.

The editorial in the party's mouthpiece, 'Saamana', claimed that the current wave of panic appears to have originated in Gujarat, the home state of both the Prime Minister and Home Minister. The report noted, "Long queues extending for several kilometers have been witnessed at petrol stations and gas agencies throughout Gujarat, as residents scramble to stockpile fuel in blue water drums. This public fear is rooted in previous experiences like Demonetisation and the COVID-19 lockdowns, during which people in Gujarat seemed to receive information ahead of the rest of the country. As a result, the ongoing rush in Gujarat has incited a fear psychosis in Maharashtra, leading many to believe a lockdown is imminent," it stated.

Despite assurances from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis that "everything is fine", the reality on the ground tells a different story. Reports indicate that nearly 50% of hotels and dhabas in Mumbai and throughout Maharashtra have closed due to a gas shortage. The foundry sector in Western Maharashtra has ground to a halt, and around 500 tile-manufacturing companies in Morbi, Gujarat, have ceased operations. Some businesses have resorted to using firewood and coal to maintain limited activity, according to the editorial.

The editorial highlighted that the crisis is significantly affected by the Iran-Israel conflict, which has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime passage for 60% of India’s LPG imports. While the government claims to hold a 60-day stock of fuel and a one-month supply of LPG, public trust remains alarmingly low.

"This distrust is exacerbated by conflicting statements from within the government. Chief Minister Fadnavis insists there is no shortage, while Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal warns that LPG supplies could cease in three months. The recent decision to resume kerosene distribution has been interpreted by critics as indicative of a genuine fuel shortage. Even in such a serious matter as fuel scarcity, there is a lack of coordination among those in charge, leading to public confusion and enabling the spread of rumours," the editorial pointed out.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena urged the government to quell speculation and prevent hoarding by releasing public data regarding daily supply figures, current stock status of petrol, diesel, and gas, as well as the number of vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz to reach Indian ports, and alternative routes and contingency plans for LPG imports.

The Thackeray camp argued that the prevailing public sentiment is that the government’s current “soft” approach is merely a temporary measure, intended to last until the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry. It cautioned that unless the government shifts from threats to transparency, the void of trust will continue to be filled with rumours. It further stated that the proliferation of rumours signifies the disappearance of trust in the government.