Bengaluru hotels face shutdown from March 10 due to commercial LPG supply crisis
Bengaluru (PTI): Hotel and restaurant operations in the city are likely to be affected starting March 10, following a sudden and total halt in the supply of commercial gas cylinders, the Bangalore Hotels Association said on Monday.
This development comes amid rising energy costs and supply constraints caused by the West Asia conflict.
"Since the gas supply has stopped, the hotels will be closed from tomorrow," the association said in a release.
Noting that the supply of commercial gas cylinders stopped today, it said, since the hotel industry is an essential service, common people, students, and medical professionals, who rely on the hotels for daily meals, will be affected.
"In addition, our hotel industry will also face difficulties until the gas supply returns to normal," it added.
The association said oil companies had guaranteed an uninterrupted gas supply for 70 days, making the sudden stoppage a "big blow" to the hotel industry.
"Therefore, we expect the concerned Union Ministers to take appropriate action immediately in this matter and resume commercial gas supply and provide cooperation to the hotel industry," it added.
Speaking to reporters, P C Rao, Honorary President of the Bangalore Hotels Association, said hotel owners are unwilling to suspend operations for any reason, but the government's move has made it inevitable for most of them to shut down.
"Without gas, food and refreshments will not be available at the hotels starting tomorrow. Hotels will not open. We have spoken and have sent communications to central ministers. We have also brought the matter to their notice through some MPs from Bengaluru. Without gas, it will not be possible to prepare food, so the government should respond immediately. Let them (government) cut (supplies) to an extent, if required. We too are aware of the situation and know the reasons," he added.
Addressing the media, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed concerns over the supply chain disruption, saying the rising LPG prices is a separate issue.
The central government increased the price of LPG cylinders for commercial use by Rs 115 and for domestic use by Rs 60, he said, adding that "everyone is of the opinion that this is a lot. What they are doing is not right."
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Surjewala slams Pratap Simha’s ‘vile’ remarks on CM Siddaramaiah, demands apology from BJP
Bengaluru (PTI): Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the BJP over alleged disparaging remarks made by former Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during an assembly bypoll campaign in Bagalkote.
Simha made the remarks while campaigning for BJP candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath, triggering a political row ahead of the by-elections scheduled for April 9.
Congress has fielded Umesh Meti, son of former MLA late M Y Meti, whose death necessitated the bye-election.
"Pratap Simha's vile remarks about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bagalkot have exposed the BJP's despicable politics once again," Surjewala said in a social media post.
Alleging a larger political design, he added, "It is increasingly evident that Pratap Simha’s outburst is driven by desperation," and accused the BJP of using such remarks to target backward classes, Scheduled Castes, and minorities.
The Rajya Sabha member further claimed that the incident reflects a pattern within the party. "This is not one man's madness—it is the BJP’s political culture," he said, adding that the remarks were aimed at "denigrating leaders from marginalised communities".
Referring to past incidents, Surjewala said, "CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar have received death threats in the past, including one from BJP leaders who warned that their bodies would be stuffed into a refrigerator."
The Congress leader also criticised the BJP’s bypoll campaign strategy, alleging "internal contradictions".
He pointed to the party’s use of expelled MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal in campaigning despite earlier disciplinary action against him, accusing the BJP of resorting to "abuses and indignities" against opposition leaders.
Surjewala demanded immediate action from the BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, state president B Y Vijayendra, and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka.
He said they must tender a public apology to Kannadigas, particularly to OBCs, SCs, and minorities, over the remarks, and urged the party to expel Simha if it does not repudiate his statements.
Surjewala also called for legal action, demanding that an FIR be registered against Simha and that strict measures be taken.
Warning of "political consequences", he said the electorate in the bypoll-bound constituencies would respond decisively if the BJP failed to apologise, asserting that voters would "teach the BJP a befitting lesson" in the elections.
There has been no immediate reaction from the saffron party yet.
