BENGALURU: Karnataka Information Technology and Biotechnology minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday described the ongoing shortage of commercial LPG cylinders in India as a crisis engineered by the BJP. He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of compromising the country’s foreign policy to benefit his industrial associates.Speaking to media, Kharge said, “This crisis has been formulated by the BJP. This is nothing but a disastrous policy by the central government. What was the need for Mr Modi to visit Israel two days prior to the war? What did he achieve? He went and got himself a non-existent award from Israel and he failed to condemn the attack on the Iranian leadership….Where is Mr Jaishankar? Where is Mr Hardeep Singh Puri? Where is the Prime Minister? In the last ten days of this war, how many times has Mr Modi spoken about this? If there is no crisis, why is the Essential Services Maintenance Act invoked? I think the Prime Minister has compromised the foreign policy, the interest of the nation, just to please two-three industrial friends of his.”Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman criticised the opposition for their protests and sloganeering in the Lok Sabha over LPG supply, accusing them of prioritising political point-scoring over national interest.Speaking during the debate on supplementary demands for grants (second batch 2025-26), Sitharaman said the opposition was ignoring government efforts to address supply chain disruptions, including issues related to LPG due to the ongoing situation in West Asia.She added, “Instead, they prefer to pursue their own agenda. I would like to make it clear that because of developments taking place abroad, several challenges are emerging for our country. The question before us is how we should face these challenges, how we should arrange the necessary funds to deal with them, and how we should remain prepared. When the Government is taking many such steps to ensure preparedness, it is unfortunate that the Opposition, instead of standing together in the interest of the nation and giving confidence to the people, is taking irresponsible positions. Such conduct should be condemned.”Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman further said, “Are the Opposition members suggesting that in times of unforeseen challenges, should the government not create a fiscal buffer or equalisation fund of Rs 50,000 crores? It is an irony that even when I am talking about how the government is preparing to face any unexpected events, inclusive of supply chain disruptions and LPG, they (Opposition) are not willing to hear the reply. They want to have their own agenda. Sit on the stairs and have chai and talk about LPG. This is our Opposition.”The exchange highlights the growing political debate over the LPG shortage and government preparedness amid global uncertainties.
