Kolkata, 27 March (H.S.): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday urged the Centre not to divert LPG produced in the state to other regions, expressing concern that supply to local residents could be affected during the election period.
Adhering to her pre-scheduled programme, Banerjee flew from Kolkata to Andal. Before boarding, she addressed reporters at the airport and alleged that ahead of the polls, administrative and police-level changes could be used to divert gas produced in the state, particularly from Haldia, to other parts of the country.
“There is petrol in the state, and there is gas as well. But we do not want gas produced in Bengal to be sent outside by changing district magistrates and police officials,” she said.
She cautioned that a large number of personnel from outside the state would arrive for election duty, and their requirements should not create shortages for local residents. The chief minister added that the state has increased kerosene allocation through the public distribution system, though most people now depend on LPG for cooking.
Her remarks come amid concerns over fuel supply in the wake of the ongoing West Asia conflict. The Centre has assured that there is no shortage of LPG, stating that domestic production has been increased significantly to meet daily demand.
Banerjee also criticised the Centre’s recent reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel, saying it was akin to increasing prices first and then offering partial relief. In response, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the government chose to absorb financial pressure instead of passing the burden on to consumers despite rising international prices.
The chief minister further raised concerns over alleged large-scale deletions in voter lists, claiming that many names had been removed. She called for full transparency and demanded that the lists be published so people can verify whether their names are included.
Banerjee also criticised the handling of supplementary voter rolls and said the process undermines democratic principles.
Referring to Thursday’s storm-related disruption, she said her aircraft could not land on time at Kolkata airport and had to circle mid-air for nearly 90 minutes before landing safely. She praised the pilot for handling the situation and ensuring passenger safety.
Banerjee has no public programmes scheduled for Friday but is set to address three rallies in the state on Saturday, officials said.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey
