‘Election Bill’: Rahul slams govt on commercial LPG price hike
Rahul Gandhi attacked the Centre over the steep commercial LPG hike, calling it an “election bill” and warning petrol and diesel prices may rise next, as Indian National Congress accused the government of burdening citizens post polls
New Delhi: The Congress on Friday attacked the Modi government over the hike in price of commercial LPG cylinder, with Rahul Gandhi saying this is an “election bill” and the next “strike” will be on petrol and diesel.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said he had warned that the heat of inflation would strike after the elections. “Today, commercial gas cylinders have become Rs 993 more expensive. This marks the single largest hike in a single day. This is an election bill,” Gandhi said in his post in Hindi on X.
“Since February: A hike of Rs 1,380, an 81% increase in just three months. Tea stalls, ‘dhabas’, hotels, bakeries, sweet shops – the burden on every kitchen has increased. And this will inevitably impact your plate as well,” Gandhi said. The first strike was on gas; the next will be on petrol and diesel, he added.
The Congress also said the ruling party’s regard for the common Indians’ suffering is limited to election gimmicks, after which they are left to their own devices. In a post on X, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said, “Just as the election cycle concluded, the
Modi government wasted no time to increase prices of LPG cylinders.” “A whopping increase of nearly Rs 1000 on commercial cylinders will affect crores of Indians who rely on food from small eateries for sustenance. Similarly, crores of small food businesses will have to bear the burden of this hike,” he said.
The BJP’s regard for the common Indians’ suffering is limited to election gimmicks, after which they are left to their own devices, Venugopal said.
“In the three months since the Iran war began, the government should have prepared a solid plan to shield ordinary Indians from the price shocks, instead of passing on the financial burden,” he said.
Gandhi on Tuesday had warned that the prices of petrol and diesel will be increased after the assembly elections conclude on April 29.
He had also attacked the government for allegedly profiteering from low global crude oil prices and said it will now put burden on the public as the prices are rising. “Election relief over, inflation’s heat is on its way! After April 29th, watch out – petrol, diesel, everything will get expensive.
“When (crude) oil was cheap, the Modi government pocketed the profits. Now that it’s expensive, it’ll dump the burden on you,” Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. “A government that loots when it’s cheap – leaving the public to bear the brunt of inflation,” he had alleged.
The price of commercial LPG was hiked by the steepest ever Rs 993 per 19-kg cylinder on Friday, marking the third straight monthly increase due to rising global energy prices linked to the West Asia conflict.
A 19-kg commercial LPG – used by establishments such as hotels and restaurants – now costs a record Rs 3,071.5 in Delhi as against Rs 2,078.50 previously. Rates were last increased by 195.50 per cylinder on April 1. Prior to that, prices had gone up by Rs 114.5 per 19-kg cylinder on March 1.
Prices of domestic cooking gas LPG – the one used in household kitchens – remained unchanged. Domestic LPG rates were last hiked by Rs 60 per 14.2-kg cylinder on March 7. It costs Rs 913 per 14.2-kg cylinder in Delhi.
State-owned Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan Petroleum revise ATF and LPG prices on the first day of every month based on international benchmarks and the exchange rate.
Global oil prices have shot up almost 50 per cent after the war in West Asia disrupted energy supply chains.
