The Government may be compelled to increase the number of subsidised domestic LPG cylinders from the current nine to 12 per household annually as political pressure is mounting on it with general elections around the corner.
The clamour within the Congress to raise the number of subsidised cylinders increased with a group of party MPs meeting Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister Veerappa Moily to raise the limit to 12.
The MPs, led by senior Parliamentarian P.C. Chacko, claimed that Moily has assured them that the issue will be raised in the Cabinet very soon.
Food Minister K.V. Thomas had also recently written to the Prime Minister and other Congress leaders that 12 subsidised cylinders are must for a family. Apart from Chacko, MPs Sanjay Nirupam and Mahabal Mishra also met the Minister.
The delegation has also demanded that the deadline for linking Aadhaar cards for the direct transfer of subsidy should be further extended.
“We hope that the Government considers these requests seriously. Nine subsidised cylinders were not enough for the year. It should be at least 12,” Chacko told Business Line after the meeting.
A section in the Congress believes that limiting the number of cylinders and the ‘exhorbitant’ price of non-subsidised cylinders had impacted the party’s chances in the recently held Assembly elections. The MPs believe that consumption of LPG is high in urban areas where there are no other sources for energy for cooking.
Nirupam and Mishra are MPs from Delhi and Mumbai.
A senior Congress leader said the LPG issue has alienated women from the party and they voted in large numbers for the Aam Aadmi Party.
“In villages they look for other energy resources such as kerosene stoves. But in cities gas stoves have become the only option for most of the households. Unless the Centre does something, the Congress will face a serious crisis,” the leader said.
jigeesh.am@thehindu.co.in