NCP (SP) workers protest in Thane against LPG price hike, demand rollback

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NCP (SP) workers on Saturday held a protest in Maharashtra's Thane city against the latest hike in the cooking gas LPG price, demanding its rollback, reported news agency PTI.

The protest was held outside the collector's office, the party's Thane district president Manoj Pradhan said.

"The government has cited the Iran-Israel war as the reason for the price hike. Even when such a situation was anticipated, there was no planning. This increase will collapse the budget of common households," he said, reported PTI.

Pradhan alleged that the increase on the eve of International Women's Day was unfair to women managing household expenses.

The party workers demanded that the Centre withdraw the hike, saying it amounted to "robbery of the people at a time when inflation was already high", reported PTI.

Domestic cooking gas LPG price on Saturday was hiked by a steep Rs 60 per cylinder, the second increase in rate in less than a year, as oil companies pass on a part of the spike in global energy rates that followed the West Asia crisis.

Non-subsidised LPG - the one that common households use in kitchens - will now cost Rs 912.50 per 14.2-kg cylinder in Mumbai as against Rs 852.50 previously, according to the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) website.

Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries - the over 10 crore poor who have got free LPG connection since 2016 - will also have to bear the same amount of price increase.

Alongside, the price of commercial LPG - the one used by establishments such as hotels and restaurants - was increased by Rs 114.5 per 19-kg cylinder. It now costs Rs 1,835 in Mumbai, as per the IOC website. This increase comes on top of the Rs 28 per 19-kg cylinder raise effected on March 1.

Fadnavis frowns on speculative LPG cylinder 'shortage' reports; 'not in interest of country'

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said news reports on the potential shortage of LPG cylinders amid the West Asia conflict are speculative and not in the interest of the country, reported PTI.

He appealed to the media to refrain from speculative reporting, stressing that the Centre is looking into the situation.

Responding to a query regarding news reports about the potential shortage of LPG cylinders, Fadnavis appealed to the media not to create panic or fear among the citizens without any reason, reported PTI.

"Showing speculative reports and discussing hypothetical scenarios leads to panic and confusion, which is not in the interest of the country and society. The Central government has clearly stated this yesterday," he added, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)