Bengaluru, 7 March

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resignation over the latest increase in domestic LPG cylinder refill prices. Siddaramaiah alleged that the hike was a result of "flawed foreign policy decisions" by the Union government.

Siddaramaiah on Saturday stated the increase would further strain household budgets at a time when families were already facing rising priced.

“The latest increase in LPG cylinder prices is deeply concerning for millions of households across India. At a time when families are already battling relentless inflation, yet another burden is being placed on the kitchens of ordinary citizens,” he stated on X.

The CM said the price rise was a consequence of India’s foreign policy approach and criticised the “compromised” PM a "loss of strategic autonomy".

“This crisis is not accidental. It is the result of a foreign policy that mistakes submission forstrategy…. Modi has repeatedly surrendered India’s strategic autonomy by aligning blindly with the US and disrupting India’s long-standing energy partnerships with nations such as Russia and Iran,” he said.

Domestic cooking gas LPG price was hiked on Saturday by a steep Rs 60 per cylinder, the second increase in rate in less than a year. This comes amid the conflict in West Asia.

Quoting India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Siddaramaiah wrote, “Foreign policy is the outcome of economic policy.”

“When diplomacy turns from a strategy into a mere spectacle, the poor and middle-class inevitably become the victims,” Siddaramaiah added.

He also referred to the unpublished book by former Army chief MM Naravane, claiming it raised concerns about the lack of institutional consultation and strategic depth in India’s foreign policy decisions.

“This confirms the suspicion that the Prime Minister lacks a fundamental understanding of diplomatic stance and its economic repercussions,” Siddaramaiah stated.

“The failure of India's current foreign policy reveals Modi's fear regarding the Epstein files and his ignorance in diplomatic decisions,” Siddaramaiah added. The Epstein files refers to documents pertaining to late convicted sex trafficker Jefrey Epstein.

“Modi, who is causing the country to lose face on the global stage, should publicly apologise to the people of the nation and resign,” Siddaramaiah concluded.