Chhindwara, April 2 Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath said on Thursday that there is no shortage of gas in the country, but the government's arrangements on the issue are lacking amid the West Asia crisis.
The BJP immediately used Nath's "no shortage of gas" statement to target the Congress, accusing the opposition party of misleading the public and creating fear to gain political advantage.
While the Congress has been highlighting long queues at fuel pumps and LPG cylinder distribution agencies to pressure the Centre, the BJP-led NDA has been insisting that there is no shortage of these items.
Speaking to reporters here, Nath, a former Union minister, said, "There is no gas shortage in the country, but the government's arrangements are lacking. There is sufficient gas in the country, but an atmosphere is being created that is causing distress to the people. The government has completely failed in gas distribution."
Nath had arrived here with his son Nakul Nath, a former Lok Sabha MP, to pray at the Simaria Hanuman temple on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti.
Union Minister and senior BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, in a post on X, said, "Now even Congress leader Kamal Nath has himself stated that there is no shortage of petrol, diesel, and gas in the country. The Congress party, which has been misleading the public for so long with lies and illusions, should be ashamed."
It is time for the Congress party to stop trying to gain political mileage by instilling fear and distrust in the public, Scindia said.
The MP Bharatiya Janata Party also took to X to claim that Nath "has exposed Rahul Gandhi's propaganda regarding LPG".
The BJP and the Congress on Thursday sparred over LPG and fuel availability, a day after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the impact of the West Asia crisis on essential supplies.
Modi on Wednesday called for an 'all-out effort' to safeguard the Indian citizens from the impact of the war in West Asia and stressed a timely and authentic public information system to ward off any misinformation or rumour-mongering.
The Congress, however, questioned the government's claims, saying if there is no crisis, it should be felt on the ground, adding that consumers must get LPG, petrol and diesel on demand.