LPG subsidy won't be cut, only be rationalized, says Dharmendra Pradhan

Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday said the subsidy on gas will not be cut, but would be rationalised. He also dubbed the opposition's uproar in the House as 'baseless'.

A united opposition today 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. Pradhan had in Lok Sabha on Monday said the government has asked oil marketing companies to raise the prices of subsidised cooking gas by Rs 4 per cylinder every month.

At present, the government gives a subsidy of a little above Rs 58 on a domestic subsidised LPG cylinder and around Rs 28 is borne by the oil marketing companies.