Punjab Education Minister Harjot Bains criticized the BJP-led Central government for the worsening energy crisis, attributing it to a “failed foreign policy.” During an Assembly discussion, he highlighted concerns about diminishing petroleum and LPG stocks, the closure of fertiliser plants in Punjab, and alleged bias in gas supply to the state. Bains urged the Centre to reveal the actual national reserves of petroleum, LPG, and LNG.
Expressing worry over the depleting petroleum and LPG reserves nationwide, Bains emphasized the discrepancy between the government’s claims of self-sufficiency and the current situation. He demanded transparency regarding the stock levels of petroleum, LPG, and LNG in the country, citing disruptions in commercial supplies. Bains squarely blamed the energy crisis on the BJP government’s foreign policy decisions, underscoring the severe implications for Punjab’s agrarian economy.
Bains raised alarms over the shutdown of National Fertilisers Limited (NFL) units in Nangal and Bathinda, cautioning that the impending kharif sowing season faces a direct threat. He criticized the unequal treatment, pointing out that while Punjab’s plants suffer from gas shortages and closures, the NFL’s Panipat plant receives full supply. Bains warned that the crisis could escalate, potentially leading to a severe shortage of petrol and diesel nationwide, affecting various sectors from agriculture to defense.
