Cong stages ‘funeral procession’ of LPG cylinders to protest rising prices

The Delhi Congress staged a symbolic protest at Jantar Mantar on Monday, taking out a “funeral procession” of LPG cylinders to accuse the BJP-led Delhi Government of failing to fulfil its election promise of providing free gas cylinders to women during Holi and Diwali.

Led by Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Devender Yadav, party workers marched with LPG cylinders to mock what they called the BJP’s “dead promises.” Yadav said the protest aimed to wake up Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s government, which he accused of ignoring women struggling with inflation and rising LPG prices.

Yadav alleged despite giving prior intimation, police did not allow Congress workers to conduct their demonstration publicly. “The BJP government is stopping the opposition and using the police in this way is the murder of democracy,” he said, adding that it reflected the BJP’s “fear of defeat” in the upcoming byelections in 12 MCD wards.

He said the party would intensify its agitation if the BJP failed to honour its commitments. “If the government continues to sleep, we will also take out a funeral procession of the Delhi Government,” he said, accusing the BJP of betraying women voters as LPG prices approach Rs 1,000.

Yadav also targeted the Aam Aadmi Party, saying Delhi had long witnessed AAP’s false promises and that the BJP had spent the last nine months doing the same. He added while the November 30 byelections would not change governments, a vote for Congress would “wake up this sleeping BJP government.”

Recalling the UPA era, Yadav praised former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit for ensuring controlled LPG prices, kerosene-free households, and cleaner air through widespread CNG adoption. “Congress worked to ease women’s burdens. The BJP and AAP governments have only made claims,” he said.

Senior Congress leaders, including AICC secretary Danish Abrar, former ministers and MLAs, district presidents, Seva Dal representatives and several local leaders joined the protest.