The issue of rising fuel prices rocked the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Tuesday with Samajwadi Party MLAs staging a walkout over it.
Raising the issue during the zero hour through adjournment notice, leader of opposition in assembly Ram Govind Chaudhary said the prices of LPG cylinders had increased significantly and the people were also getting fewer subsidies. He said in 10 months' time, the price of an LPG cylinder in Ballia had increased by over Rs 240.
In an apparent reference to the UP assembly polls next year, Chaudhary said, "If the government does not wake up now, then there will be a silent revolution in 2022."
"The prices of petrol and diesel are increasing almost every day. This is impacting the farmers and the common man," he said.
Opposing the notice, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna said the government was working to minimise the impact of the rise in prices of essential commodities and petroleum products. He said the Covid pandemic had caused a huge setback to the economy of the state as it adversely impacted the revenue of the government and caused huge additional expenditure for strengthening the health infrastructure to fight the pandemic.
The minister said despite the rise in price of diesel, there was no hike in tariff by the PSU UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC). He said in 2017, the UPSRTC charged 95 paisa per km which had been increased only by 10 paise.
The minister said the claims about inflation made by the leader of opposition were based on incorrect information. He said the government was working for the welfare of the common people which had also been established by the victory of the BJP candidates in the recent bypolls to UP assembly seats.
Not satisfied by the government's reply, the Samajwadi Party members walked out from the House.