West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday led a protest march in Kolkata to highlight what she described as a growing shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). During the demonstration, she accused the Narendra Modi-led central government of failing to ensure an adequate supply of cooking gas and of not taking sufficient steps to prevent the emerging crisis.
Banerjee joined the rally as it began from College Square in central Kolkata and moved towards Dorina Crossing. The protest was organised to draw attention to the alleged LPG shortage and was presented as a collective mobilisation aimed at safeguarding the “rights and dignity of the people of Bengal.” Supporters of the Trinamool Congress gathered in large numbers for the march, which the party described as a unified effort to raise concerns over the issue affecting ordinary households.
Ahead of the protest, the Trinamool Congress appealed to its supporters and party workers to participate in the rally led by Mamata Banerjee. The party encouraged people to join the demonstration and contribute to what it described as a collective demand for justice and accountability from the central government.
During her remarks, Banerjee criticised the Centre over the LPG crisis and suggested that certain developments had taken place late at night. She said she had received information about some of these developments around 1 am. The Chief Minister also urged party members not to become victims of what she referred to as conspiracies, adding that the matter would be addressed later in Delhi. She further alleged that the state’s Chief Secretary, who is a Bengali woman, was being targeted, describing the situation as an anti-women move.
Banerjee blamed the central government for the emerging shortage of LPG, claiming that the authorities had not built adequate reserves of cooking gas and petroleum products before imposing restrictions in response to energy disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia. According to her, proper preparation could have helped prevent the present situation.
Speaking to a Bengali news channel on March 11, Banerjee said the crisis might have been avoided if the central government had anticipated possible disruptions in global fuel supply chains and taken precautionary measures. She argued that the Centre should have first ensured sufficient reserves of LPG, oil, and gas before implementing any restrictions aimed at managing the situation.
While addressing supporters during the protest, Banerjee also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and referred to his earlier remark “chun chun kar marenge.” She questioned the usefulness of such statements in the current circumstances and asked how the country would be defended in such a scenario, suggesting that such remarks were not appropriate given the situation.
The Chief Minister also alleged that several significant developments had taken place late at night, saying she was informed about them around 1 am. She claimed that a number of senior officials, including the Chief Secretary, the Home Secretary, the Commissioner of Police, and the Director General of Police, were removed from their posts around midnight. According to Banerjee, the Chief Secretary — a Bengali woman — was being singled out, which she described as discriminatory and anti-women.
Banerjee further alleged that the actions taken by the Election Commission had affected not only Bengali officers but also capable non-Bengali officials. Despite these changes, she maintained that the functioning of the state administration would continue smoothly. She remarked that regardless of who is appointed to key positions, the administrative system would continue to operate and carry out its responsibilities.
Referring to a recent incident involving the residence of state minister Shashi Panja, Banerjee questioned what might happen next. She asked whether the events that took place at Panja’s residence could eventually extend to other leaders, including herself.
The Chief Minister also claimed that several names had been removed from a draft list and announced that Trinamool Congress booth-level officers would assist affected individuals in filing cases in tribunals. She assured supporters that the party would take responsibility for covering the legal costs involved in pursuing these cases.
In her address to supporters, Banerjee called for a political boycott of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and challenged the party directly. She predicted that the central government would collapse in 2026 and expressed confidence that the Trinamool Congress would return to power with a stronger mandate in West Bengal.
While energising the crowd during the protest, Banerjee used the slogan “Jo hamse takraega, chur chur ho jayega.”
The LPG shortage that formed the basis of the protest has been linked to rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia. These tensions have started to disrupt global fuel shipments and important supply routes. Since India relies heavily on imported LPG to meet domestic demand, especially from countries in the Gulf region, any disruption in these supply chains can have a direct impact on the availability of cooking gas within the country.
