Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday defended the ‘citizen-first policies of the (Narendra) Modi government amid opposition fire over increase in prices of essential goods like LPG (liquified petroleum gas) cylinders.
Puri, the petroleum minister, shared a graphic that said ‘LPG prices in India continue to be among the lowest in the world’, and compared the current price of ₹1,053 to that in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the United States.
“As a result of the ‘citizen first’ policies of the Modi government, rise in the price of cooking gas in India is much lower than the global level,” he said, “Cooking gas prices around the world have risen on account of increase in input cost.”
LPG prices were hiked by ₹50 per cylinder this month. The price of domestic LPG – used by over 305 million households for cooking – jumped from ₹1,003 per 14.2 kg cylinder in Delhi.
Prices vary across the country based on local levies and transportation costs. The cost in Kolkata is ₹1,079 per 14.2 kg cylinder, it is ₹1,052.50 in Mumbai, and ₹1,068.50 in Chennai.
Rates for commercial use of LPG were slashed by over ₹200 per 19 kg cylinder.
The opposition has been quick to target the government on this issue, with furious protests against increasing prices, including that of LPG, repeatedly stalling the ongoing monsoon session of parliament.
Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till noon after protests over both the increase in prices and the Gujarat hooch tragedy that has killed over 20 people.
The government has also been attacked from within; Bharatiya Janata Party MP Varun Gandhi – emerging as a forceful critic – reacted to the ₹50 per cylinder price hike for domestic consumers.