Hyderabad: Congress leader Arham Adil criticised the LPG price hike and said the increase had added financial pressure on small businesses and ordinary households. He said the decision came at a time when people were already struggling with rising living costs.
Adil questioned the timing of the hike and referred to earlier public statements by Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who had indicated there was no proposal to increase fuel prices.
He also referred to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s earlier remarks warning about a possible fuel price increase after elections. According to Adil, those concerns now appeared to have become reality.
Arham Adil said oil marketing companies had faced financial stress for some time. However, he alleged that authorities shifted the burden directly onto consumers instead of addressing the issue through policy measures.
He pointed out that global crude oil prices had eased in recent weeks. Despite that, domestic consumers did not receive any relief, he said.
LPG price hike impacts small food vendors
“The increase has come as a shock, especially to those who depend on LPG for their daily livelihood,” Adil said.
He stated that many small vendors and eateries operated on narrow profit margins and could not absorb additional fuel costs easily.
Referring to Hyderabad, Adil said vendors in Nampally, Ameerpet, Tolichowki, Yousufguda, Kukatpally and parts of the Old City were already facing difficulties. Some vendors allegedly purchased cylinders at higher rates because of supply shortages.
He added that many eateries could not increase food prices in price-sensitive localities. According to him, earlier LPG hikes had forced some food outlets to shut temporarily, while others shifted to wood-fired cooking.
Arham Adil said repeated fuel price fluctuations created uncertainty for small businesses and affected operational planning. He urged the Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review the LPG price hike and protect vulnerable sections from additional financial stress.
He also demanded greater transparency in the fuel pricing process. Adil said pricing revisions should reflect global crude oil trends and consider the impact on ordinary citizens.