AAP MLAs protest over LPG shortage in Punjab

March 16, 2026

Chandigarh: Amid an alleged shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders and rising prices, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators in Punjab on Monday staged a protest outside the state Assembly.

Raising slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre, the MLAs described the situation as a result of government mismanagement and warned that the party would intensify its agitation if the issue is not addressed.

AAP leaders criticise Centre over gas supply

Leading the protest, AAP chief spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said, “Today the common citizens of the country are suffering because of Narendra Modi-led government’s flawed foreign policies. In the race to side with Israel and the United States, the Centre has sidelined the country’s interests, which has affected the supply of oil and gas.

“Until the prices of cylinders are reduced and supply is restored smoothly, the Aam Aadmi Party will not sit quietly, from the streets to the Vidhan Sabha.”

AAP working President Amansher Singh Shery Kalsi highlighted the ground reality and criticised the statements of BJP leaders.

“BJP ministers and leaders are sitting in air-conditioned rooms and falsely claiming that there is no shortage of gas in the country. If they want to see the reality, they should look at the long queues where people are standing hungry and thirsty for hours.

“Today the situation is such that stoves in homes have gone cold. In houses where weddings are taking place, even rotis are not being cooked. The indifference of PM Modi-led government has snatched food from the plates of the poor,” he said.

AAP warns of nationwide agitation

Issuing a warning to the Central government, the Aam Aadmi Party said that if the supply of LPG is not normalised soon, BJP spokespersons and ministers will be gheraoed across the country.

Centre says gas supply remains stable

Earlier on Monday, the Central government said that the supply of piped natural gas (PNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) continues uninterrupted across the country.

In an inter-ministerial briefing, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Joint Secretary, Marketing and Oil Refinery, Sujata Sharma, said that fuel pumps supplying CNG and household PNG connections are operating normally.

“Supply to both CNG users and PNG consumers is being maintained fully. Authorities have also begun enforcement actions to prevent hoarding. Raids have been carried out in several states as part of checks on fuel storage and supply,” she said.

The senior government official further said that crude oil is available in sufficient quantity and all refineries are operating at full capacity. Petrol pumps are functioning normally and no fuel dry-outs have been reported so far.

Gas distribution firms have also introduced incentives for new PNG users. Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) has announced free gas worth Rs 500 for consumers registering for PNG connections before March 31.

Meanwhile, LPG bookings have declined as panic among consumers has eased, while authorities continue raids across states to check hoarding and black marketing.