Opposition slams government over Rs 4 hike in cooking gas

New Delhi: The Opposition on Tuesday attacked the Centre in both Houses of Parliament over its decision to raise cooking gas prices by Rs 4 on a monthly basis in order to gradually do away with the LPG subsidy, calling it “cruel” and demanding that the proposal be withdrawn. Members from the Opposition later staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha over the issue.

Congress MP K.C. Venugopal raised the matter as soon as Zero Hour proceedings began in Lok Sabha, saying it will adversely affect the common man and there was no justification of it when the crude oil prices had gone down. “It should be immediately withdrawn,” he said. He found support from Trinamul Congress (TMC) and Left MPs.

Sudip Bandopadhyay of the TMC said the steady increase in the LPG cylinder price by the government had been highest in the last six years.

Describing the move as “anti-welfare”, he wondered what will be the “fate” of over 2.5 crore women given the connection for free. CPIM MP Sreemathy Teacher said the decision was “cruel” and urged the Speaker to compel the government to take back the decision.

N.K. Premachandran of the RSP accused the government of not being transparent on the matter as he said that the decision was taken in March this year itself with oil marketing companies, but was not made public. The Opposition parties later staged a walkout as they sought a response.

In Rajya Sabha, TMC MP Derek O. Brian accused the government of making promises and not keeping them.

He said, “The oil prices have fallen in international market, why not in India? Why the government is not keeping promises? Gas subsidies have been given by the people, but still the government wants to charge Rs 4 per cylinder extra per month per cylinder.”

The members demanded that while the House is in session how such a decision was announced outside Parliament.

Congress MP Digvijaya Singh said, “Why the Rajya Sabha was not informed about this increase the government is burdening the poor.” Naresh Agarwal of the SP said the government is flushing money from the poor.

Responding to this, petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan said: “An empowered group of ministers in 2010 decided on reviewing the subsidy periodically as the income of people goes up.”

This did not have any affect on the protesting members as they stormed into the well of the House and forced two adjournments in the Zero Hour.