In an open letter to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal held the Congress party responsible for the hike in gas prices for Reliance Industries. Kejriwal alleged that Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries had already secured a higher price of over $4 per unit for natural gas by using questionable means, as against the cost of $1 per unit and an agreed price of $2.3 per unit for sale.
The UPA Government has further decided to hike it further to $8 per unit and it is believed it will result in an undue benefit of a whopping Rs 54,000 crore to Reliance Industries. Even the Delhi budget falls short as against this benefit which is Rs 40,000 crore. “Panic will spread within the country from April 1,” Kejriwal said, adding that the cost of cooking gas, transportation and fertilisers will all go up, resulting in higher food prices and an inflationary spiral.
He further questioned Rahul Gandhi that why was he along with Narendra Modi silent on the issue. “People are also wondering as to why gas prices were doubled just a few months before the General Elections. Is the Congress party in any way being funded by the industrialist or receiving favours in any other form,” he questioned seeking details of such favours.
He further accused that when the anti-corruption wing of Delhi filed a case against Ambani when the Aam Aadmi Party Government was in power, senior leaders of both the Congress and the BJP came together and raised objections. “Do the two parties have such bonding with Mukesh Ambani,” he queried further.