A united opposition protest against the government’s decision to hike LPG prices stalled the pre-noon proceedings in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. The Opposition demanded the rollback of Rs 4 per cylinder every month hike aimed at eliminating domestic cooking gas subsidies by March 2018.
Members of the Congress, SP, TMC, BSP and Left parties stormed the Well of the House shouting slogans, forcing deputy chairman PJ Kurien to first adjourn the proceedings for 10 minutes and then till noon.
The issue was raised by Derek O’Brien (TMC) who gave a notice under rule 267 that seeks to set aside business of the day to discuss an important issue.
O’Brien said that the government was not fulfilling its social commitment to provide cooking gas at subsidised rates. Oil prices have come down from $111 per barrel to $48, but the government is raising rates of cooking fuel, he said.
Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan had yesterday told Lok Sabha that the government has doubled the monthly increase in LPG price to Rs4 per cylinder from 1 July with a view to eliminate all subsidies by March 2018.
“When they make promises, why not implement it,” O’Brien asked.
Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) said that at the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, people had voluntarily given up subsidies so that subsidised LPG can be provided to the poor and needy. But the government has now decided to charge all the poor Rs4 per cylinder more every month, he said.
“This is strongly condemnable. Government should withdraw (the decision).”
Sharad Yadav (JD-U) said when Parliament was in session, the decision should not have been announced outside.
Clarifying the decision, Pradhan said the move flowed from a June 2010 decision under the previous UPA government to raise prices every month in a small measure to completely eliminate subsidies.
He read out from a document that listed the decision and those who endorsed it.
Pradhan said the BJP-led government has in the last three years raised the LPG connections from 14 crore to 21 crore and given as many as 2.6 crore free connections to poor women household members.
(With inputs from PTI)
Video Editor: Mohd Ibrahim
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