LPG up ₹89 in three months as Opposition targets Centre over fuel price claims

The latest increase in domestic LPG prices has reignited a political battle over inflation, fuel policy and the government's ability to protect households from global energy shocks. With the price of a 14.2-kg LPG cylinder in Delhi rising by ₹29 on Sunday, consumers are now paying ₹942 per cylinder, marking a cumulative increase of ₹89 since March. The hike comes against the backdrop of continued instability in West Asia, which has placed pressure on international energy markets and raised concerns about the impact on Indian households already grappling with rising living costs.

Opposition questions Centre's fuel diversification narrative

According to the Hindustan Times, the Congress and several opposition parties seized upon the latest increase to challenge the government's claims that India had successfully diversified its energy imports and reduced vulnerability to geopolitical disruptions. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the repeated increase in cooking gas prices was "incinerating the kitchens of the common people" and questioned why consumers were still bearing the burden despite assurances of energy security.

Kharge pointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's earlier statements in Parliament about sourcing fuel from multiple countries and asked why rural areas were still facing LPG-related challenges. He also recalled BJP protests against fuel price rises during the UPA era and claimed domestic LPG prices had risen sharply over the past decade under the current government.

The criticism was echoed by parties including the Trinamool Congress and the Samajwadi Party, which described the increase as another burden on households already dealing with inflationary pressures.

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Government highlights subsidy support

According to the Hindustan Times, defending the hike, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas argued that Indian consumers continue to pay significantly less than the actual market-linked cost of LPG. According to the ministry, the cost of supplying a cylinder has crossed ₹1,600, while a regular consumer in Delhi pays ₹942.

The government also highlighted support under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, under which eligible beneficiaries receive a direct subsidy of ₹300 per cylinder on their first four refills each year. As a result, these households effectively pay around ₹642 per refill.

Officials maintained that petroleum prices in India remain linked to international markets but stressed that government intervention continues to cushion consumers from the full impact of global price fluctuations.

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Rising concern over household budgets

According to the Hindustan Times, the fresh increase has renewed concerns about household expenditure, particularly among lower and middle-income families that rely heavily on LPG for daily cooking needs. While the government argues that subsidies continue to provide meaningful relief, opposition leaders contend that repeated hikes undermine those benefits and place additional pressure on family budgets.

With global energy markets remaining volatile due to continuing tensions in West Asia, the debate over fuel affordability is likely to remain a politically sensitive issue in the months ahead.