Kolkata, March 7: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed her opposition to the recent hike in LPG cylinder prices and has announced a large-scale protest march in Kolkata this Sunday.
Banerjee has urged citizens to participate in the demonstration by bringing kitchen utensils and household items. She emphasized that the rising gas prices are severely impacting ordinary families, particularly women. In light of International Women’s Day, she called on mothers and sisters to take to the streets to voice their concerns.
During a sit-in at Esplanade in Kolkata, Banerjee criticized the central government, stating that the continuous increase in domestic gas cylinder prices has become a significant issue for the public. She highlighted that as of midnight Friday, the price of domestic gas cylinders has risen by ₹60. Just three days prior, commercial gas cylinder prices had increased by ₹49. Currently, the cost of large cylinders has reached approximately ₹2,100, while smaller cylinders are now priced around ₹1,000.
The Chief Minister also questioned the new booking regulations for gas cylinders, which now require booking 21 days in advance. She raised concerns about families being unable to cook if they run out of gas, stating that the government should consider the daily needs of ordinary people when formulating such policies.
From the protest stage, Banerjee encouraged participants to bring pots, bowls, spoons, and other kitchen items to illustrate that cooking at home is impossible without gas. She suggested that if possible, women should also bring gas stoves and raw grains to the protest. She mentioned that women could wear black sarees to symbolize their dissent. Banerjee described this as a movement for the protection of humanity and called for a large turnout of women on the streets.
In the meantime, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and the threat of a U.S.-Iran conflict, the central government has invoked emergency powers under the Essential Commodities Act of 1955. The government has instructed Indian refineries to increase LPG production and has asked public sector oil marketing companies to ensure that the additional LPG is primarily made available to domestic consumers.
Following the recent decision by the central government, the price of a 14.2 kg domestic gas cylinder has increased by ₹60, raising the cost from ₹879 to ₹939. These new prices took effect on Saturday. Additionally, the price of commercial gas cylinders has also risen by ₹50 per cylinder, bringing it to nearly ₹1,990. This increase in gas prices is expected to impact the restaurant and hotel industry, potentially raising the cost of dining out.
Simultaneously, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced the launch of a new state government scheme called ‘Banglar Yuva Sathi.’ She stated that beneficiaries would start receiving financial assistance from Saturday. Under this scheme, state students who have passed their secondary exams but have not yet found employment will receive a monthly stipend of ₹1,500.
Banerjee noted that the implementation of this scheme was initially scheduled for April 1 but has been expedited. She reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises, adding that the ‘Lakshmi Bhandar’ scheme, which provides grants to women, has been in effect since February. Banerjee stated, “We do what we say.”
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My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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