They protested during UPA: Congress mocks BJP over rising LPG prices

The Congress criticised the Modi government over the latest LPG price hike, alleging burden on households and questioning fuel diversification claims. The Centre defended the increase, attributing it to rising global prices and asserting that India continues to offer relatively cheaper cooking gas

New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Modi government over domestic LPG price hike, asking why the BJP leaders aren’t taking to the streets with cylinders in protest now when they used to raise a hue and cry about inflation during the UPA era.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made “grand claims” in Parliament about diversifying fuel sources across 41 countries in response to the West Asia conflict and asked what became of that.

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Why does a shortage of LPG persist in rural areas even today, he asked. The Congress president’s remarks came after the price of a 14.2-kg domestic LPG cylinder in Delhi was raised to Rs 942 from Rs 913, while beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) will continue to pay an effective Rs 642 per cylinder after receiving a subsidy of Rs 300 per refill on the first four refills annually, down from 9 refills announced last year.

The increase follows a Rs 60-per-cylinder hike on March 7, taking the cumulative hike to Rs 89 per 14.2-kg cylinder. State-run oil marketing companies were estimated to be losing about Rs 703 on every LPG cylinder sold before the latest revision.

In a post in Hindi on X, Kharge said, “Soaring domestic LPG prices threaten to devastate the kitchens of the common people! The Modi government has hiked the price of domestic LPG cylinders by Rs.89 over the last four months.”

“We have three questions: Modi ji had made grand claims in Parliament about diversifying fuel sources across 41 countries in response to the West Asia conflict. What became of that? Why does a shortage of LPG persist in rural areas even today? Under the Ujjwala scheme, 5.56 crore families did not get even a single refill (or got only one) during 2025-26. Of these, 3.30 crore families did not opt for a single cylinder refill. This situation predates the West Asia crisis. Is this not the result of the Modi government’s profiteering?” Kharge said.

“Modi ji and BJP leaders used to raise a hue and cry about inflation during the UPA era. Is it not true that the Modi government has increased domestic LPG prices by Rs 530 over the last 12 years? Why aren’t BJP leaders taking to the streets with LPG cylinders in protest now?” he said.

The government on Sunday said Indian households continue to pay among the lowest prices for cooking gas globally despite a sharp rise in international PG prices triggered by disruptions in West Asia.

In a statement, the government said the cost of supplying a domestic LPG cylinder has risen to more than Rs 1,600 following a surge in international prices that followed the outbreak of war in West Asia at the end February.

India’s LPG import costs are linked to the Saudi Contract Price (CP), the global benchmark for the fuel. The benchmark has risen about 46 per cent since February after disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz tightened supplies from the Gulf region, according to the statement.

Despite the increase, domestic LPG prices remain below those prevailing in neighbouring countries such as Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, and significantly lower than prices in advanced economies, including the United States, Australia, and Canada, the government said.

The government also said India was among the few countries able to maintain uninterrupted energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz during the crisis, ensuring there was no shortage of LPG or other petroleum products in the country. Domestic LPG production was increased and supplies diversified through alternative sourcing arrangements to safeguard availability, it added.