Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has voiced strong criticism against the Union government regarding the ongoing cooking gas shortage, asserting that comments made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi have unnecessarily frightened the public.

In a message shared on X, Stalin highlighted that comparing the current situation to the COVID-19 crisis has alarmed citizens already grappling with difficulties stemming from the limited availability of LPG cylinders. He noted that the gas supply disruption has had a profound impact on everyday life, leading to the closure of several restaurants and resulting in job losses for many workers.

Impact on Daily Life

Stalin remarked, “The Honourable Prime Minister’s statement that it is ‘like the Covid period’ has further panicked the people who are already suffering from gas shortage. Most of the restaurants have been closed, and workers are losing their jobs.” He directed his criticism specifically towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government, alleging that instead of taking immediate action to remedy the crisis, it is attempting to divert public attention by discussing various political matters, including constituency delimitation.

State Government’s Response

Stalin emphasized that both LPG distribution and foreign policy are under the purview of the Union government. He claimed that the Tamil Nadu government has exerted all possible efforts within its capacity to address the ongoing gas shortage. “The BJP government, which should have found a solution to this through drastic measures, has now taken up the constituency redelineation script to divert the news from this issue. The AIADMK, which has chosen to overlook the people’s problems, is questioning what the state government is doing. Is the provision of cylinders and foreign policy managed by the state government? The state government has taken all the steps it can,” he asserted.

Public Sentiment

Stalin further posed a rhetorical question that he claimed was resonating with the public: “What is the BJP government, which is responsible for all this, doing?” He made it clear that the citizens are seeking answers regarding the Union government’s actions during this pressing situation.

Prime Minister’s Energy Strategy

On a related note, Prime Minister Modi recently stated that India has broadened its energy import sources from 27 to 41 countries over the past ten years. He highlighted ongoing efforts to reduce dependence on any single fuel while also expediting domestic gas distribution, including piped natural gas (PNG) and LPG. The Prime Minister remarked, “Any crisis tests both our courage and our efforts. To ensure that the country can face such challenges effectively, continuous decisions have been made over the past 11 years.” He underscored that diversification of energy imports is a fundamental aspect of these efforts.

Government Initiatives in Energy Supply

Modi added that significant strides have been made in enhancing domestic gas supply in recent years. “Our government is making efforts to ensure that we do not have excessive dependence on any one source of fuel. The government is also focusing on PNG, along with LPG, in the domestic gas supply. In the last decade, unprecedented work has been done on PNG connections in the country. In recent days, this work has been further accelerated,” he stated. This comprehensive approach aims to tackle challenges in the energy sector while addressing the immediate concerns surrounding cooking gas availability.

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