Oppn stalls RS proceedings protesting against LPG price hike

01 Aug 2017 12:43 PM | General

291 Report

NEW DELHI: A united opposition on Tuesday stalled the pre-noon proceedings in the Rajya Sabha protesting against the government's decision to hike the prices of domestic cooking gas (LPG) by Rs 4 per cylinder every month to eliminate all subsidies by next March.

Congress, SP, TMC, BSP and Left MPs stormed into the Well of the House shouting slogans seeking withdrawal of the decision, forcing Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to first adjourn the proceedings for 10 minutes and then till noon. The issue was raised by Derek O'Brien (TMC) who gave a notice under rule 267 that seeks to set aside business of the day to discuss an important issue.

Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan had on Monday told Lok Sabha that the government has doubled the monthly increase in LPG price to Rs 4 per cylinder from July 1 with a view to eliminate all subsidies by March 2018.

Sitaram Yechury (CPM) said at the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, people had voluntarily given up subsidies so that subsidised LPG can be provided to the poor and needy.

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said the notice under rule 267 was being disallowed but a short duration debate can be permitted if a notice is given.

The opposition members rushed into the Well shouting slogans against the decision, forcing Kurien to adjourn the proceedings for 10 minutes. Clarifying the decision, Pradhan said the move flowed from a June 2010 decision under the previous UPA government to raise prices every month in small quantum to completely eliminate subsidies.

Pradhan said the BJP-led government has in the last three years raised the LPG connections from 14 crore to 21 crore and given as many as 2.6 crore free connections to poor women household members. JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said when Parliament was in session, the decision should not have been announced outside.

Slogan-shouting members trooped into the Well raising slogans. The minister made his submission amid slogan shouting. As members refused to relent and return to their seats, Kurien adjourned the proceedings till 12:00noon.