Members of the Goa Mahila Pradesh Congress staged a protest at the Panaji market on Saturday, raising concerns over the scarcity of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders and the recent increase in prices.
During the demonstration, participants held placards and symbolically cooked using firewood to highlight the difficulties faced by households due to the shortage of cooking gas.
Goa Mahila Pradesh Congress President Pratiksha Khalap said the shortage has caused inconvenience to women across the state.
“LPG has gone up by Rs 60 and now costs around Rs 925. This is their strategy for every election: increase the price of the cylinder, then reduce it, and then they increase it again,” she said.
Khalap also questioned statements made by the government regarding the availability of fuel reserves.
“People do not have cylinders to cook food. The Chief Minister is fooling everyone. First he said there is stock for 50 days, then he said one month. If that is the case, why are people waiting in queues? If there are no cylinders, how will self-help groups prepare food items? The government is responsible for this,” she said.
She further alleged that inflation is affecting essential services, claiming that electricity and water bills have also increased.
Khalap also criticised the government, alleging that corporate interests were being prioritised over public concerns.
“Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri is involved in the Epstein Files. The USA is blackmailing the PM into doing things, hence the PM is compromised. The government is only interested in helping crony capitalists like Adani and Ambani. Perhaps it is their ploy to shut down the supply of cylinders and hand it over to these companies to run later,” she said.
Congress Mahila member Akshata Parab said rising prices were affecting many households.
“We are in trouble; everything has become expensive. What are we supposed to do? We are not earning much. We want the cylinder price to be reduced. Inflation is high. The BJP has made everything expensive, while taxes have also been increased,” she said.
Goa Mahila Congress General Secretary Lavinia Da Costa also raised concerns about alleged black marketing of LPG cylinders.
“Goans cannot afford their basic staple food of fish, curry and rice as there are no cylinders. Water, light and cylinders are basic necessities. They are saying wait for 25 days before booking cylinders, but what if our cylinder is exhausted before then? If we buy induction hobs, our power bills will increase. The government should spare a thought for the common man and how they are suffering,” she said.
Da Costa added that the situation was also affecting the local economy.
“Tourism is being affected as hotels are suffering; some are on the verge of closing down. People are waiting in queues for cylinders, and black marketing has started. Some are selling these for as much as Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000. We demand that the government restore the supply of LPG cylinders immediately,” she said.
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