Arvind Kejriwal raises concern over LPG shortage, questions Centre’s foreign policy

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday expressed concern over what he described as a growing LPG shortage in the country and criticised the Centre’s foreign policy decisions in the context of the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal claimed that disruptions in supply routes linked to the conflict have affected the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is widely used in households, restaurants and several industries. He warned that the situation could lead to economic disruption and potential job losses if the shortage persists.

“At this moment the country is passing through a very serious crisis. Across the country there is a massive shortage of LPG gas which is used for cooking in households, restaurants and in various kinds of industries. A severe shortage has emerged in the country because the daily production has fallen by 50 percent,” Kejriwal said.

He noted that India imports around 60 percent of its LPG requirements and claimed that nearly 90 percent of these imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. According to him, disruptions in that route have significantly reduced supply.

“In our country, around 60 percent of the LPG that we consume is imported. Out of this 60 percent import, nearly 90 percent comes through the Strait of Hormuz. Now the supply that used to come to India through the Strait of Hormuz has stopped for India. As a result, nearly 90 percent of those imports have been cut off,” he said, adding that the overall supply in the country could fall by about 50–55 percent.

Kejriwal also highlighted the potential impact on restaurants, hotels and certain industries that rely heavily on LPG. He said that some establishments in major cities have already begun shutting operations due to supply constraints and warned that more closures could follow.

“The biggest and most immediate impact of this crisis is being borne by restaurants and hotels as the government has issued orders that LPG gas will not be supplied to restaurants and hotels,” he said, adding that many establishments do not maintain stock due to safety regulations.

He cited examples from different parts of the country, including Mumbai, Tamil Nadu, Delhi NCR and other states, where he claimed restaurants, hotels and industries are facing operational challenges because of limited gas availability.

Referring to the industrial sector, Kejriwal mentioned Morbi in Gujarat, a major hub for the tile industry, stating that several units there have been affected.

“Morbi in Gujarat, which is considered the capital of the tile industry, has around 650 industries. Out of these, 170 industries have already shut down and nearly one lakh people have become unemployed,” he said.

He added that if the crisis continues, large-scale unemployment could occur across the country.

Kejriwal also alleged that LPG cylinder prices have increased in recent days and claimed that black marketing of cylinders has been reported in several places.

Linking the shortage to global geopolitical developments, the AAP leader said the disruption was related to tensions involving Iran and control over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy shipping route.

“This is happening because Israel and the US have attacked Iran. A large portion of the world’s oil and gas supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran currently has control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has stated that only those countries that are friendly to them will be allowed to move their ships through that route,” he said.

Kejriwal criticised the Union government’s foreign policy stance, saying India should have maintained neutrality during the conflict.

“The biggest mistake made by Prime Minister Modi is that in a war where India had no stake, we should not have supported either side. We should have remained neutral. For the past 75 years India’s foreign policy followed the principle of Non Alignment in policy,” he said.

He also questioned the Prime Minister’s handling of relations with the United States and former US President Donald Trump, alleging that India’s interests were being compromised. Kejriwal further said that foreign policy decisions should be guided solely by national interests.

“India’s foreign policy must be shaped according to the interests of our country,” he said.

The Centre has not yet issued a response to Kejriwal’s remarks at the time of publishing.