The Opposition on Tuesday protested in the Parliament against the Government's decision to "remove" subsidy on liquefied petroleum gas (lPG) cylinder terming it as "anti-poor" and stalled proceedings in the Rajya Sabha in the pre-noon session termed it as "anti-poor." The agitated members staged a walk-out in the lok Sabha even as the Government said it was not removing but rationalising the subsidy.
While the Congress and other Opposition parties stormed into the well of the House forcing two adjournments during the Zero Hour, Minister for Petroleum Dharmendra Pradhan said in the din the decision was taken by the erstwhile UPA regime in 2010.
Pradhan had announced in the lok Sabha on Monday that the Government had doubled the monthly increase in lPG prices to Rs 4 per cylinder from July 1 with a view to eliminate all subsidies by March next year.
Explaining the reason for rationalising subsidy, the Minister said in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday the move flowed from a June 2010 decision to hike prices every month in small quantum to completely eliminate subsidies. As agitated members kept shouting slogans against the government, Pradhan read out from a document that listed the decision and those who endorsed it.
Raising the issue, Derek O'Brien(TMC) said the government had made a commitment to the poor to provide subsidized cooking gas and this decision to hike lPG prices amounted to going back on that promise. Oil prices have come down from USD 111 per barrel to USD 48 but the Government is raising rates of cooking fuel, he said.
Sitaram Yechury (CPM) said at the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi people had voluntarily given up subsidies so that lPG can be provided to the poor and needy.