M A Baby, General Secretary of the CPI(M) has written a letter on March 13, 2026 to the Prime Minister, 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.

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)