Mumbai, Mar 16 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Monday questioned the claims of the Union and Maharashtra governments on no shortage of LPG amid the West Asia crisis and asked why queues were being seen for cylinders if this was the case.He also took a swipe at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the latter’s assertion that the Opposition was creating panic through misinformation despite there being no shortage of LPG or fuel in the state.
“If there is (LPG) supply, then why are queues (for cylinders) being seen? I have received information that 30 to 40 per cent of hotels in Mumbai are shutting down due to the shortage. Common citizens are suffering,” Thackeray said.
If the government claims there is no shortage of LPG cylinders, then why are people struggling to get them, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader asked.
“If the chief minister is not willing to accept that such a situation exists, then the state’s situation is really difficult,” he said while alleging that the government machinery had failed to convey the ground reality to Fadnavis.
He said it is a serious matter when those in power, despite understanding the situation, are not willing to acknowledge the suffering of the people and continue to claim nothing is wrong.
Speaking to reporters in Pune on Sunday, Fadnavis had said, “Rahul Gandhi and the Congress are deliberately creating fear among people, resulting in citizens standing in queues for LPG cylinders.” “We have sufficient gas supply. There is absolutely no need to queue up for LPG anywhere,” the CM had said.
India imports about 88 per cent of its crude oil, 50 per cent of natural gas and 60 per cent of LPG needs. Before the US-Israel strikes on Iran on February 28 and Tehran’s retaliation, more than half of India’s crude imports, about 30 per cent of gas and 85-90 per cent of LPG imports came from Middle East countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The conflict has led to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the main transit route for Gulf energy supplies. PTI ND BNM
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