New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) The Communist Party of India on Friday strongly condemned the steep hike in commercial LPG cylinder prices, warning of an immediate impact on small businesses and food costs across the country.
It also slammed the timing of the announcement, coming just two days after the final phase of the assembly elections held across several states — with voting concluded in West Bengal on April 29.
The price of commercial LPG saw the steepest hike ever — of Rs 993 per 19-kg cylinder — on May 1, marking the third straight monthly increase due to rising global energy prices linked to the West Asia conflict.
In a post on X, CPI general secretary D Raja said, “The CPI strongly condemns the unprecedented hike of Rs 993 per cylinder in commercial
LPG prices. A commercial gas cylinder will now cost over Rs 3,100 in Delhi after this brutal increase.” He added, “Continuous increases in fuel prices reflect the government’s failure to safeguard India’s interests in a challenging global situation. Instead of ensuring stability, the burden is being shifted onto ordinary people.” Highlighting the wider impact, Raja said, “Eateries, dhabas, hostels, PG accommodations and small businesses across the country will feel the impact immediately, leading to higher food prices and rising living costs.” Targeting the timing of the move, he further said, “Coming just a day after voting, this confirms what the CPI had warned: that LPG and other fuel prices would be increased once elections were over. Once the votes are cast, the burden is pushed onto the common people. This is deeply unjust.” Echoing these concerns, CPI Rajya Sabha MP P Sandosh Kumar linked the hike to the Centre’s foreign policy.
“The unprecedented hike in commercial LPG prices by Rs 993 per cylinder is a direct consequence of Modi’s hug-lomatic foreign policy, which has failed to secure India’s national interest in a volatile global energy environment,” Kumar said in a statement.
He further said that instead of ensuring stability in fuel supplies and prices, this approach has left the country “exposed”, and the burden is now being “dumped on restaurants, dhabas, small eateries, hostels, PG accommodations and small establishments” across the country.
Kumar warned about the cascading effecrs and said the immediate fallout will be higher food costs and living expenses, hitting ordinary people the hardest.
On the timing of the hike, he added, “Coming just a day after voting, this vindicates what the CPI had warned: that LPG and other fuel prices would be hiked once elections were over. After votes are cast, the mask drops, and the burden is shifted onto the common people in an unprecedented manner.” The MP called the moved “shameful” and said it must be unequivocally condemned.
Both leaders asserted that the CPI would oppose the move and press for a rollback, calling it an “anti-people” measure. PTI AO PRK
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