Congress MPs staged a protest on Wednesday in the Parliament premises over the alleged shortage of commercial LPG cylinders across the country. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also joined the demonstration. Opposition MPs carried banners and raised slogans while demanding that the government address the issue and hold a discussion in Parliament. Leaders from the INDIA bloc called for an immediate debate on the reported LPG shortage, which they said has been aggravated by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat demanded a detailed discussion on the situation in West Asia and criticized the central government for failing to handle the situation properly. He said that the government had earlier promised to reduce dependence on imports but the country still relies heavily on foreign supplies. According to him, the impact of the conflict has already started affecting energy supplies and the government must explain its plan to deal with the situation.

The shortage of LPG has emerged amid global energy supply disruptions triggered by the conflict in West Asia. In response, the Union government has invoked the Essential Commodities Act to prioritize domestic LPG distribution. Higher allocations have been reserved for households, hospitals, and other essential services, while commercial distribution has been restricted in several regions. The government has also introduced a 25 day mandatory gap between bookings for domestic LPG refills.

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari also criticized the Centre, stating that the government failed to anticipate the risks arising from the West Asia conflict. CPI M MP V Sivadasan said the issue would be raised both inside and outside Parliament, claiming that many hotels and families are suffering due to the shortage. CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar also submitted a notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking a discussion on the issue.