The streets of Kolkata witnessed a massive political flare-up on Thursday as the Pradesh Congress Committee launched a fierce protest against the skyrocketing prices and persistent shortage of LPG cylinders. Led by State Congress President Shuvankar Sarkar, hundreds of party workers marched through the city’s heart, carrying empty cylinders on their shoulders. The message was loud and clear: “If the fire dies in the kitchen, it will ignite on the streets!” This slogan resonated through the city as the party demanded immediate intervention from both the Center and the State.

Addressing the rally at Dharmatala, Shuvankar Sarkar didn’t mince words while attacking the Modi and Mamata administrations. “The common man is being crushed between the Center’s apathy and the State’s incompetence. While the Center keeps hiking prices, the State government has failed to curb the flourishing black market,” Sarkar stated. He issued a stern ultimatum, declaring that if the fuel crisis isn’t resolved by the end of the weekend, the Congress will initiate a statewide “Mega Agitation” starting Monday. This could involve blocking major highways and picketing government offices.

The protesters highlighted that the recent surge in non-subsidized LPG prices has made it nearly impossible for middle-class families to sustain their daily lives. The Congress claims that artificial shortages are being created to benefit middlemen, and the government is looking the other way. With the 2026 electoral landscape getting heated, the Congress is clearly trying to corner the ruling dispensations on the issues of inflation and essential commodities. As Monday’s deadline looms, all eyes are on the government’s next move to avoid a potential state-wide shutdown led by the Congress.