In a startling assessment of the nation’s current energy landscape, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has raised an alarm over an escalating LPG shortage that he claims could trigger a catastrophic economic slowdown and lead to nearly one crore (10 million) people becoming unemployed. Addressing the media, Kejriwal criticized the central government’s management of fuel reserves and import logistics, asserting that the scarcity of liquefied petroleum gas is no longer just a domestic kitchen issue but a looming industrial disaster. He pointed out that several small-scale industries, commercial food sectors, and hospitality businesses rely heavily on a steady supply of gas to maintain their daily operations; without it, these enterprises face imminent closure, which would inevitably lead to massive layoffs. The Delhi Chief Minister emphasized that the ripple effect of this shortage would be felt most acutely by the working class and daily wage earners who are already struggling under the weight of high inflation, warning that the sudden disappearance of livelihoods on such a scale could destabilize the social fabric of the country.
Furthermore, Kejriwal argued that the government’s failure to secure long-term energy contracts and stabilize domestic prices has left the nation vulnerable to international market volatility, essentially putting the future of ten million families at stake. He urged the administration to intervene immediately by providing emergency subsidies and diversifying import channels to ensure that the “chulhas” (stoves) of both homes and commercial establishments do not go cold. By linking the energy crisis directly to a potential employment crisis, Kejriwal has shifted the political narrative toward the fundamental right to work and the government’s responsibility to protect the economy from foreseeable shocks. As the debate over fuel security intensifies, this warning serves as a call for urgent policy rectification to prevent a domestic shortage from spiraling into a full-blown national unemployment emergency.
