'Center has struck people's pockets with current' Surjewala accuses centre of LPG price hike

Slamming the BJP government over LPG cylinder price hike, Congress has said that the decision has struck "current in the pockets" of common people.

New Delhi: Slamming the BJP government over LPG cylinder price hike, Congress has said that the decision has struck "current in the pockets" of common people.

As per the new rates of 14.2 kg non subsidised LPG cylinder is now priced at ₹858.5 in New Delhi with the steep hike of ₹144.5 from the last revision since 1st January. Hitting out at the government over the issue, Congress Chief Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "Before elections, they were saying "isko current lagayenge", "usko goli maarenge" but after elections they have themselves struck people's pocket and their household budget with current."

He further stated, "Modi government has today attacked the budget of India's women. Today, they have electrocuted the budget of a common man. With just one stroke of pen, they have increased the price of gas cylinder by ₹ 144, taking the price of non subsidized gas cylinder to ₹ 858.50, which is an increase of over 100% in less than 5.5 years."

As the food inflation in the country has reached 7.59 percent, Surjewala attacked the Center for not being able to control the situation as onions are still being sold at ₹74 per kg which used to be sold at ₹17 per kg during the tenure of UPA government. The prices of food items such as vegetables,eggs,meat and fish along with fuel have seen a sudden rise in its price.

Surjewala moreover accused the central govt saying that if people think of going back to the usage of kerosene then it wouldn't be cheap either as its subsidy has also been slashed by ₹3,659 crores.

On behalf of Congress party, Surjewala demanded, "As international price of crude oil have fallen why should there be such surreptitious and uncalled action for increase in the price of gas cylinder. This increase should immediately be rolled back."