Opposition Stages Parliament Protest Demanding Action on National LPG Crisis

Opposition leaders staged a protest in Parliament on Thursday over a reported shortage of commercial LPG cylinders, taking aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of the situation. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader, criticized the Prime Minister for advising the public not to panic, saying he himself had “panicked” over other issues, including the Epstein files and the Adani case in the United States.

Gandhi, joined by opposition MPs including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, staged a demonstration near Parliament’s Makar Dwar, demanding answers on the LPG shortage. The protest featured women MPs sitting with a mock brick stove and raising slogans such as “Naam Narender, Kaam Surrender” and “Modi ji, LPG”. Gandhi posted on social media in Hindi, highlighting the discrepancy: “Sansad mein Narenra gayab, desh mein cylinder gayab” (“Modi absent in Parliament, cylinders missing in the country”).

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge echoed the concerns on X, stating that the country is facing a severe LPG crisis while the Prime Minister is occupied with election tours. He emphasized that both households and small and large industries are struggling due to the shortage, and criticized the government for offering “false claims” instead of solutions. Kharge called for Modi to address real issues in Parliament rather than public broadcasts such as Mann Ki Baat.

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The protest comes amid wider demands from opposition parties—including the DMK, TMC, and SP—for a discussion on the West Asia situation and its impact on India. The House was adjourned shortly after it convened at 11 am due to sloganeering, with Gandhi and other suspended MPs sitting on the steps of Makar Dwar and sharing tea during the demonstration.

Prime Minister Modi, meanwhile, had addressed the nation on Wednesday, appealing to citizens not to panic and assuring that public interests would be protected. He expressed confidence that the LPG supply issue would be resolved, noting the strain the shortfall has placed on the hotel and hospitality sector.

The incident highlights growing tensions between the government and opposition over energy supply management, with political leaders using the LPG shortage to question the administration’s effectiveness and accountability in Parliament.

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