New Delhi, March 12: Amid ongoing debates over the LPG shortage and rising fuel prices, the Congress party shared a post on the social media platform X, criticizing the central government. This post sparked significant discussion online. However, following widespread criticism for using an outdated image, the party promptly deleted the post.
The Congress post featured a photo with the slogan “Modi hai to mumkin hai” and a caption suggesting that people were waiting in long lines for LPG cylinders.
Shortly after the post went live, numerous social media users pointed out that the image was allegedly from 2011. This led to increased backlash against Congress for sharing an old photo to illustrate a current issue. As criticism mounted, the party quietly removed the post from its social media accounts.
Meanwhile, protests against the recent rise in LPG prices continue in various parts of the country. In Mandya district, Karnataka, members of the district Congress committee and its women’s wing protested against the central government, condemning the increase in prices for both domestic and commercial LPG cylinders.
On March 7, oil marketing companies raised the price of a 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder by ₹60, while the price of a 19 kg commercial cylinder increased by ₹114.50. This hike is attributed to rising global energy costs linked to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The Maharashtra Congress also held protests across all districts on Thursday, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the recent LPG price hike. The party accused the government of failing to adequately plan for fuel and gas supply amid global market uncertainties due to the Middle East crisis.
Amid these protests, Congress is also preparing for its internal organizational programs. Starting Thursday, the party is hosting a two-day residential training workshop in Triyambakeshwar for candidates from the North Maharashtra region who recently contested local body elections.
In the meantime, government officials have advised against panic buying and hoarding of LPG cylinders. They stated that unnecessary panic bookings are occurring due to misinformation spreading on social media.
Officials have urged citizens to remain calm and avoid disseminating unverified news related to LPG shortages.
During a joint briefing by the Ministries of Petroleum, External Affairs, and Shipping, officials announced that domestic LPG production in India has increased by nearly 25% following government directives.
Sujata Sharma stated that additional LPG cargo ships are currently en route to India and are expected to arrive in the next one to two days.
She noted that India imports about 60% of its LPG needs, with approximately 90% of these imports passing through the Strait of Hormuz. “Currently, LPG is primarily being allocated for domestic use, with non-domestic LPG prioritized for essential services like hospitals and educational institutions,” she added.
A committee is working with state governments and industry representatives to ensure that the available LPG supply is distributed fairly and transparently across the country.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
Leave a Comment