[Marxistindia] Press Release

[news from the cpi(m)]

March 13, 2026

 

Press Release

 

M. A. Baby, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has
written a letter today to the Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi, on the
grave crisis affecting a large section of our population due to the scarcity
of cooking gas. We are herewith releasing the text of the letter for
publication. 

 

Muralidharan

(For CPI(M) Central Committee Office)

 

 

 

Dear Shri. Modi ji,

 

I am writing this letter with deep anguish to bring to your attention the
grave crisis affecting a large section of our population due to the scarcity
of cooking gas. The government appears to have failed to ensure adequate gas
reserves that could protect the country's interests from external shocks and
instabilities caused by the US-Israel war on Iran and the resulting
disruption of supply chains.

 

The US-Israel aggression on Iran has destabilised energy supply chains and
despite the claims made by the government, reports indicate that people are
suffering severely. The government has increased the prices of cooking gas
cylinders in both the subsidised and non-subsidised categories. This has
added to the already heavy burden on people struggling with inflation. Now,
on top of this, people are also facing a severe shortage of cooking gas.
While people are forced to register for refills and wait in long queues,
black-marketeers are having a field day. Gas cylinders meant for domestic
consumption are being sold in the black market at rates ranging from Rs.
1,500 to Rs. 4,000. The government should immediately take measures to curb
black marketing and ensure the availability of gas cylinders to all
genuinely needy individuals.

 

Due to the scarcity of cooking gas, many student hostels have reduced their
food menus. Students are being served either dal or sabji (curry) instead of
proper meals. In some places, hostels have even been shut down and students
have been asked to return to their homes. These developments have an adverse
impact on the health and education of students, particularly school
students. The government should immediately take steps to ensure the
uninterrupted supply of gas cylinders to student hostels so that students'
academic activities are not adversely affected.

 

The scarcity of cooking gas has also affected many restaurants and office
canteens. Gig workers who depend on delivering cooked food are losing their
jobs. The prices of alternative cooking sources, such as induction stoves
and electric cookers, have risen sharply. Even the cost of firewood has
increased by more than four to five times. It has also come to our notice
that the prices of edible oil are on the rise.

 

These developments are pushing the poorer sections of our society towards
hunger, while the middle classes are suffering under the additional burden
of rising prices. Overall, the war initiated by the US and Israel is having
a debilitating impact on the lives of people in our country. Even cremation
has become difficult in places where gas-based crematoriums have had to shut
down their operations.

 

In this context, I urge you to intervene immediately and ensure:

 

1.       Strict action against black-marketeers who are hoarding and selling
gas cylinders at inflated prices;

 

2.       Uninterrupted supply of gas cylinders to student hostels so that
nutritious and balanced meals, including adequate quantities of dal and
sabji along with other regular items, can be prepared and served;

 

3.       Regulation and control of the prices of edible oils;

 

4.       Adequate compensation for gig workers dependent on food deliveries
who have lost their jobs; and

 

5.       Protection of the interests of small restaurant owners.

 

I would also urge you to reconsider the recent foreign policy positions of
the government and firmly condemn the US-Israel war on Iran. I would like to
remind you that when Iraq was attacked by the US in 2003, the Parliament of
India unanimously passed a resolution deploring the attack on a sovereign
country. It is worth recalling that the Prime Minister of India at that time
was Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was leading the then BJP-led NDA
government. We urge you to move a similar resolution in the Parliament,
which is currently in session, condemning the US-Israel aggression on Iran.

 

The government should immediately call upon the US and Israel to end the
war, and necessary steps should be taken to ensure the uninterrupted supply
of energy resources.

 

I look forward to your immediate intervention and action.

 

With regards,

 

 

 

M A Baby

(General Secretary)

 

 

 

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