Anti-poor BJP: AAP stages protests in Punjab over commercial cylinder price hike

A sharp price hike in commercial LPG cylinders has triggered protests across Punjab, with AAP leaders taking to the streets and launching a strong attack on the Centre over rising costs.

In Short

• AAP workers held demonstrations and sit-ins in several Punjab districts
• The party called the Rs 993 cylinder price rise anti-poor and damaging
• Harpal Singh Cheema said the increase burdened common people further

The Aam Aadmi Party launched protests across Punjab after a sharp increase of nearly Rs 1,000 in the price of commercial LPG cylinders, calling the move “anti-poor” and a fresh blow to people already facing rising costs.

Party leaders and workers held demonstrations in several parts of the state, raising slogans and staging sit-ins against the Centre’s decision.

In a post on X, AAP Punjab said, “The 993 hike in the price of commercial gas cylinders will shatter the already inflation-battered people. This decision has once again shown that the BJP’s sole aim is to loot the poor.”

The party added that the protests were aimed at opposing what it called a “people-killing decision”.

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema also attacked the Centre over the hike. “The BJP government’s true face has now been completely exposed. By hiking the price of commercial cylinders by 993, an even heavier burden has been placed on the common people,” he said.

Cheema added that the party would “continue to raise the issues of the common people and stand firmly for their rights”.

AAP said demonstrations were held across the state, including in Malerkotla, with leaders and supporters joining the protests.

Calling it a “massive hike”, the party said the increase would further strain households and businesses already dealing with inflation.

The protests have added to the ongoing political tussle between the AAP and the BJP, with the Punjab ruling party accusing the Centre of ignoring public hardship.

- Ends