Raipur, March 12 The opposition Congress created a ruckus in the Chhattisgarh assembly on Thursday, claiming that people in the state have been facing a shortage of cooking gas cylinders, and demanded a discussion on the issue.
Legislators from the party entered the well of the House after their demand was rejected, leading to their automatic suspension.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Leader of Opposition Charan Das Mahant said the state has been facing a shortage of LPG cylinders.
He said the chief minister had earlier assured that Chhattisgarh would not face any scarcity, but prices were hiked the very next day.
Mahant demanded a discussion on the matter.
Interrupting him, senior BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar said that cooking gas is not a subject of the state government.
Joining Mahant on the issue, former chief minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel said that LPG supply may not be a state subject, but issues such as black marketing and hoarding are matters the state government must address.
“That is why we brought this issue up during Zero Hour,” Baghel said, demanding a discussion.
Amid the uproar, the Chair adjourned the proceedings for five minutes.
When the House resumed, Mahant said more than 36 lakh cylinder consumers in the state are facing difficulties and demanded strict measures to prevent black-marketing.
Baghel said the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran has affected lives across the country, with reports of cooking gas shortages emerging from several states.
“The supply of commercial gas cylinders has been disrupted. Nearly 50 per cent of hotels in big cities have shut their operations. Even in Chhattisgarh, there are reports of hotels being shut down,” he said.
The lawmaker warned that if commercial gas cylinder supplies are halted, activities such as weddings and other events could come to a standstill.
Baghel also alleged that along with LPG cylinders, shortages of petroleum products have also started, leading to black-marketing.
In such a situation, the government should inform the House about the stock of domestic and commercial LPG cylinders and what arrangements are being made to ensure smooth supply and prevent black-marketing and hoarding, Baghel said.
He urged the Chair to accept the adjournment notice and hold a discussion in the interest of the public.
However, the Chair disallowed the motion, stating that the matter pertained to the Centre. Opposition members then entered the well of the House and began sloganeering.
As the members entered the well, they were automatically suspended. The Chair announced the suspension of 30 Congress MLAs, though their suspension was revoked shortly afterwards.
