BJD, Congress Corner Govt over LPG Price Rise; Assembly Adjourned Multiple Times

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Legislative Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes on Thursday as opposition members from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress staged protests over the recent hike in LPG cylinder prices and alleged shortage of cooking gas in the state.

As soon as the Question Hour began, Congress MLAs holding placards rushed near the podium of Speaker Surama Padhy and raised anti-government slogans against the LPG price increase.

Members of the BJD also joined the protest, standing in their seats and raising slogans during the Question Hour. Amid the noisy scenes, Speaker Padhy attempted to continue the proceedings but was eventually forced to adjourn the House till 11.30 a.m.

However, the disruption continued when the Assembly reconvened, with opposition members again raising slogans over the LPG price hike and supply concerns. The Speaker first adjourned the House till 12.10 p.m. and later till 4 p.m. as the protests showed no signs of subsiding.

BJD leader Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo said cooking gas is a basic necessity not only for households but also for restaurants and several small businesses. He alleged that people are facing difficulties due to rising prices and concerns over LPG supply.

Singh Deo said the government must ensure uninterrupted availability of LPG cylinders so that kitchens across the state can function smoothly. He also claimed that the increasing prices and supply issues are creating distress among ordinary consumers and small establishments dependent on LPG for daily operations.

Senior Congress leader Ashok Das said the continuous increase in LPG cylinder prices has made it extremely difficult for common people and poor families to manage daily household expenses.

He said cooking gas is an essential commodity for every household and the government must ensure it remains affordable. According to Das, the protest was organised to reflect the concerns of the people and to compel the government to take immediate steps to control the rising prices. He also demanded restoration of adequate subsidies on LPG cylinders so that ordinary citizens can sustain their livelihoods.

Das further alleged that the “double engine government” has failed to address the problems faced by people and that the cost of living is steadily rising.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA Irasis Acharya criticised the opposition for repeatedly disrupting Assembly proceedings over the issue. He said the matter could have been discussed through a structured debate during Question Hour or Zero Hour instead of creating disruptions.

Acharya also highlighted initiatives of the Central government to expand LPG access across the country, especially among poor households, and said several steps have been taken to strengthen the supply mechanism and provide cooking gas connections to economically weaker sections.