Congress MLAs Protest LPG Shortage Outside Gujarat Legislative Assembly

Congress legislators on Friday staged a protest outside the Gujarat Legislative Assembly over the alleged shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders and natural gas, amid concerns about cooking fuel availability across the state. The demonstration coincided with the ongoing Budget session and comes after the state government formed a monitoring committee on Wednesday to coordinate with the Union government to maintain adequate gas supply.

Around 12 Opposition MLAs participated in the protest, holding posters and symbolic LPG cylinder props while raising slogans highlighting the issue. The protest was led by state Congress President and MLA Amit Chavda, along with senior party leader Dr Tushar Chaudhary. In a symbolic display, Chavda carried a gas cylinder on his shoulder, while Chaudhary balanced firewood on his head, drawing attention to the difficulties faced by households.

During the demonstration, police personnel reportedly stopped the MLAs from advancing toward the Assembly steps. Speaking to the media, Chavda claimed that citizens were being forced to wait in long queues to obtain LPG cylinders, with many homemakers struggling to find refills. He also warned that the shortage was affecting businesses, with restaurants closing or contemplating shutdowns due to lack of gas.

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“The government should ensure adequate supply of gas and petroleum products immediately so that citizens receive relief. If the present situation continues, it could lead to chaotic conditions in the coming days regarding gas availability,” Chavda said, urging authorities to act promptly.

The protest comes amid broader concerns about LPG supply in India, which relies heavily on imports from West Asia. Geopolitical disruptions in the region have affected shipping routes and energy markets, raising the risk of localized shortages. The state government has responded by forming a monitoring committee under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to coordinate with the Centre, extend LPG booking intervals to 25 days, and prevent hoarding while ensuring equitable distribution.

Spokesperson and Minister Jitu Vaghani said the committee would continuously review the situation to stabilise gas supply and urged citizens not to panic buy, assuring that measures were in place to maintain availability of cooking fuel across the state.

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