New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Monday warned of a looming LPG supply crisis across the country, claiming that a sharp fall in gas availability could severely impact restaurants, hotels and several industries.
Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal alleged that domestic LPG availability in India has dropped by nearly 50–55 per cent. According to him, the situation has arisen due to disruptions in global supply chains linked to geopolitical tensions affecting shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
He said India imports nearly 60 per cent of its LPG requirements, and a large share of those imports typically move through the Strait of Hormuz. With supply routes disrupted, he claimed the country is facing a sharp reduction in available LPG.
Kejriwal said restaurants and hotels are among the worst affected sectors as commercial establishments are not allowed to maintain large LPG stocks due to safety regulations and depend on daily cylinder supplies.
Citing examples from across the country, he claimed that around 20 per cent of restaurants in Mumbai have already shut operations and warned that the number could rise sharply in the coming days. In Tamil Nadu, he alleged that nearly 10,000 hotels and food establishments are on the verge of closure.
He further stated that industrial sectors could also face severe disruptions, pointing to Morbi in Gujarat — a major tile manufacturing hub — where several factories have reportedly halted operations due to energy shortages.
Kejriwal also alleged that rising LPG prices and black-marketing in the market are worsening the crisis, particularly during the peak wedding season when demand for cylinders is high.
The AAP leader linked the situation to India’s foreign policy stance in the ongoing geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, and urged the Centre to adopt what he described as a balanced and neutral diplomatic approach in international conflicts.
He warned that if the supply situation does not improve soon, the country could face large-scale economic disruptions and potential job losses affecting millions of workers in hospitality, manufacturing and related sectors.
