The BJD has targeted the Narendra Modi-led BJP Government against its decision to hike domestic LPG price by Rs 50.
At a Press meet here on THursday, BJD MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik recalled Modi’s famous slogan ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ before the BJP came in power in 2014 and Centre’s ‘Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana’ (PMUY).
“We have been supporting almost all decisions of the Centre for implementation of welfare schemes. But we cannot support the LPG price hike.
In 2014, the LPG price was Rs 410. Now with the hike by Rs 50, it costs more than Rs 1,100. The price rose by three folds in eight to nine years, Patnaik said.
“Before the LPG hike decision, the Modi Govt had taken another decision which was opposed by the BJD. Keeping inconveniences in mind during the Covid pandemic, there was a provision of additional 5kg free rice to poor beneficiaries under the PDS system. But the scheme has been shut from January 1 this year. A poor beneficiary, who has been struggling to manage with remaining Rs 5kg rice in a month, is now facing a tougher time to cook that rice with the LPG price hiked by Rs 50,” Patnaik said.
“The BJD strongly opposes this anti-poor policy of the Central Government. Surprisingly, the State BJP is silent on the LPG price hike,” he said.
BJD spokesperson Shreemayee Mishra was also present at the Press meet.
