New Delhi, 07 June (H.S.):

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has sharply criticised the Central Government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the recent increase in domestic LPG cylinder prices, alleging that the continued rise in cooking gas costs has intensified the financial burden on ordinary citizens, particularly low-income and middle-class families.

Kharge said the persistent increase in LPG prices has placed additional pressure on household budgets at a time when consumers are already grappling with rising inflation. According to him, the cost of running a household kitchen has steadily increased, making it more difficult for families to manage their monthly expenses.

In a statement posted on the social media platform X on Sunday, the Congress leader referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks in Parliament regarding India’s efforts to diversify its fuel supply sources. Kharge noted that the Prime Minister had highlighted the country’s ability to secure energy supplies from 41 nations despite conflicts and geopolitical instability in West Asia.

Questioning the effectiveness of the government's energy strategy, Kharge asked why concerns related to LPG availability and consumption continue to persist in rural areas if such extensive diversification of energy sources has already been achieved.

The Congress President claimed that the price of a domestic LPG cylinder has increased by ₹89 over the past four months. He argued that repeated hikes in cooking gas prices, coupled with broader inflationary pressures, are significantly affecting family budgets, with the greatest impact being felt by lower-income and middle-income households.

Referring to the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Kharge said that during the 2025–26 financial year, approximately 5.56 crore beneficiary families reportedly refilled their LPG cylinders only once or not at all. He further claimed that nearly 3.30 crore of these households did not purchase a single refill during the period.

According to Kharge, these figures indicate that a substantial number of economically weaker families are finding it increasingly difficult to use LPG regularly because of rising prices. He argued that the data raises serious questions about the affordability of cooking gas for beneficiaries of welfare schemes.

Seeking an explanation from the government, Kharge asked whether the situation was not a direct consequence of continued price increases and existing policy decisions. He accused the Centre of failing to effectively control inflation, asserting that ordinary citizens are bearing the consequences of rising living costs.

Launching a broader political attack on the BJP, the Congress President recalled that during the tenure of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, the BJP and Narendra Modi frequently criticised the ruling administration over inflation and fuel prices.

Kharge claimed that domestic LPG cylinder prices have increased by approximately ₹530 over the past 12 years, resulting in a substantial financial burden on consumers across the country.

He urged the Central Government to take concrete and effective measures to provide relief from rising LPG prices and ensure affordable access to cooking gas for economically vulnerable households. Kharge said such steps are essential to ensure that welfare programmes, including the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, deliver meaningful benefits to those who need them most.

The Congress leader maintained that reducing the burden of essential household expenses should remain a priority, particularly at a time when inflation continues to affect the purchasing power of millions of families across India.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar