Commercial LPG Price Surge Draws Sharp Criticism from Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy

Hyderabad: Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has strongly denounced a ₹993 increase in commercial LPG rates, characterizing the hike as a hardship for entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens.

The minister branded the price revision as regrettable and contended that the Union government deliberately timed the increase to coincide with the conclusion of electoral polling. He warned that the move would adversely impact street food vendors, hospitality establishments, restaurants, and small-scale traders.

Uttam Kumar Reddy asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party administration had postponed the price adjustment until voting ended. "The BJP government has consistently deceived India's people," he stated. He pointed out that within a day of West Bengal's polling concluding, commercial LPG prices climbed by approximately 30-35 percent.

The revision became effective on Friday, with commercial cylinders of 19 kilograms now exceeding ₹3,000 across major urban centres. Oil companies attributed the adjustment to elevated international energy costs stemming from tensions in West Asia.

This marks the third successive monthly rise in commercial LPG pricing. The minister cautioned of downstream consequences for food costs in the market. "The impact will be immediate and widespread—food prices on the street will increase," he stated, emphasizing that common citizens would bear the brunt of this burden.

Commercial LPG serves as fuel for hotels, cafes, and numerous small enterprises. The price escalation will therefore directly inflate their operational expenses. The minister noted that cylinder costs have surged from approximately ₹2,000 to beyond ₹3,000 in most metropolitan areas, describing the situation as deeply unfortunate.

Uttam Kumar Reddy condemned the policy decision forcefully, reaffirming that the Congress party has persistently resisted such measures. He called for an urgent reversal of the commercial LPG price increase, arguing that such action is essential to safeguard small business owners and contain inflationary pressures. Without a rollback, he cautioned, the price hike would intensify financial hardship for the broader population.