Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday (March 12, 2026) said the government will take up the issue of LPG shortage in the Cabinet meeting, while urging the Centre to immediately address supply disruptions that are affecting households and farmers.
In the wake of the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict in the Middle East, the State is facing LPG refill crisis.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Shivakumar said the shortage of LPG supply was causing hardship to the public, particularly in rural areas, and insisted that the matter needed urgent attention at the highest level.
“Today there is some issue with gas supply; gas is not available. This is causing problems for everyone. I had said this yesterday as well and the day before, but the (BJP) MPs are not speaking about it,” he said.
Mr. Shivakumar said the Centre must act immediately to resolve the problem and ensure uninterrupted supply of LPG, warning that people in villages might be forced to revert to firewood if the situation persists.
“They should find a solution today itself and supply LPG. Otherwise, if gas is not available in the villages, then our farmers will have to use firewood as an alternative. They say people should not use firewood and declare things as ‘firewood-free,’ but people are compelled to make such decisions,” he said.
He also criticised the Union Government over rising fuel prices, stating that increasing costs of petrol, diesel and essential commodities were adding to people’s difficulties.
“In any case, the central government is not reducing gas prices. Petrol and diesel prices are increasing, and the prices of all commodities are rising. People are struggling. So the Centre itself must respond to this. The state government alone cannot bring about this change,” he said. — PTI
