LPG price hikes: Opposition targets government, questions government’s claim of adequate stock

Opposition parties on Saturday (March 7, 2026) slammed the Union government for hiking the price of LPG cylinders or cooking gas, with the Congress questioning the government’s claim of having adequate petroleum stocks amid the West Asia crisis.

The prices of domestic LPG and commercial cylinders were hiked by a steep ₹60 and ₹114.5, following an increase follows a rise in global energy prices because of the West Asia conflict. The price increase is effective from March 7.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in a post on X , said the Narendra Modi government is helpless in providing relief to the common people.

“First, the benefits of lower international prices were snatched from the public. Now, the sweat of the people is being extracted under the burden of inflation. The Modi government, which boast sab changa si [all is well] when the war broke out, is helpless in providing adequate oil-gas, fertiliser!” Mr. Kharge said in his post.

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav told reporters that the government imposes taxes, on the one hand, and increases prices on the other. “Remember, once the price of something goes up, it will never come down,”Mr. Yadav said, adding,“And the reason for inflation is profiteering and corruption”.

All India Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba held an impromptu protest over the issue while Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala questioned the Modi government’s recent claim that there was no shortage of cooking gas or LPG in the country. “Then why were LPG prices suddenly hiked? Is this an opportunity in disaster? One thing is clear: ‘If there’s Modi, there’s inflation’!” Mr. Surjewala said in a X post.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi told reporters that if the government didn’t pass on the benefits lower crude prices earlier, then it should have “cushioned” the people from the latest crisis. “It is shameful, unfortunate and this should be rolled back,”Mr Chaturvedi said.