AAP MLA complains of LPG shortage, but Sirsa says supply normal

New Delhi: Delhi govt on Wednesday asserted in the assembly that there is no shortage of LPG cylinders in the capital, with food and civil supplies minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa urging people not to panic over rumours of disruption in supply.Delhi govt is constantly monitoring the situation and taking strict action against rumour mongers, he said, adding it “is working diligently to prevent black marketing of cylinders and ensure a smooth supply”. Sirsa was responding to concerns raised in the assembly by AAP’s Matia Mahal MLA Md Aaley Iqbal who said many people in his constituency, located in Old Delhi, have been reporting a shortage of LPG cylinders in the past few weeks.The minister said official data shows no unusual spike in bookings and that the LPG supply chain has been completely normal across the city over the past 22–25 days. “There is no sign of overbooking or shortage,” he said.“Both domestic and commercial cylinders are being supplied on a priority basis according to the Centre’s policy, with essential services, including hospitals, being given top priority. There is a need for cylinders during the festival season, and I want to assure the entire House that not even for a single day or single hour will there be any shortage during this period,” said Sirsa, assuring the House that in case of any complaint, his office will take immediate action.Iqbal Only AAP MLA In HouseIqbal was present in the assembly even though his party AAP, which has 22 MLAs in the 70-member House, has boycotted the ongoing budget session over non-revocation of the suspension of four of its members — Sanjeev Jha, Kuldeep Kumar, Jarnail Singh and Som Dutt — during the winter session.AAP response to Iqbal’s move is awaited.The MLA told TOI that “AAP did not inform him that the party has boycotted the budget session” and he wanted to raise the important issue of LPG “shortage” in the assembly because many people in his constituency have been complaining to him over the past few weeks of a cooking gas shortage.“There is panic over LPG cylinder supply in my area, and I wanted to know from govt about steps being taken to prevent black marketing and hoarding,” said Iqbal, whose father Shoeb Iqbal, a six-time former MLA, quit AAP last Nov.While the Matia Mahal MLA was speaking in the assembly, some BJP members tried to obstruct him, insisting that there was no need to create panic.On Tuesday, leader of the opposition Atishi called the continued exclusion of the four AAP MLAs an assault on democratic norms, saying AAP members will return to the assembly once the “arbitrary” suspension is revoked.Speaker Vijender Gupta said they had been punished because of their “agitation and misbehaviour” during LG’s address in the winter session. Since that session has not been prorogued yet, the suspension continues, Gupta clarified.