Premium

Vidhan Sabha tables a resolution against Centre for shortage of gas & oil

Furthermore, the shortage of petrol and diesel could also impact transportation. Punjab's warehouses are full, preventing transportation. Storing the new crop will be difficult.

3 min readMar 12, 2026 04:02 PM IST

Shiromani Akali Dal MLA who switched to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Dr Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi, supported the motion, saying certain leaders had become habitual offenders.

Ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) tabled a resolution against the Centre over the shortage of LPG, petrol and diesel on the plea that the Centre was not giving a clear picture to the residents.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak tabled the resolution condemning the shortage of petrol, diesel, and LPG gas due to the Iran-US-Israel war. This is the second resolution against the central government in the Assembly in two days.

On Tuesday, the Punjab Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution against India’s trade agreement with the United States. After the introduction of the resolution, the Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan postponed the debate on the resolution for Thursday. On Wednesday, the list of business of Vidhan Sabha had scheduled the debate on the budget. It will come up for debate on Thursday.

Kataruchak said that stated that this situation has arisen due to the Modi government’s flawed foreign policy. He noted that the wheat procurement season is about to begin in Punjab. Wheat will begin arriving in the markets next month, and since gunny bags are largely sourced from Bengal, our relations with the Bangladeshi government have not been cordial, leading to a severe shortage of gunny bags. Compared to our five lakh bales, they are only willing to supply us with three lakh bales. They suggested that two lakh bales could be arranged using plastic bags. However, due to the Iran-US war, crude oil supplies have also stopped, affecting plastic granules.

Furthermore, the shortage of petrol and diesel could also impact transportation. Punjab’s warehouses are full, preventing transportation. Storing the new crop will be difficult.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Minister Harjot Bains said that due to the gas shortage, NFL plants in Nangal and Bathinda have shut down, leading to a shortage of urea. Accusing the central government of bias, the minister said that the Panipat unit is receiving full gas supply, but not the Punjab unit. Finance Minister Harpal Cheema, calling this a serious issue, proposed a debate on the motion in the House on Thursday, which the Speaker accepted. Congress and BJP MLAs were absent in the House during the tabling of the resolution.

Interestingly, the resolution was not listed in the schedule of Vidhan Sabha. It was tabled at the last minute. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal had also addressed a presser in Delhi against the shortage.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Loading Recommendations...

Apr 12: Latest News

Live Blog