Prices of LPG, petrol and diesel have been repeatedly hiked in the country without check. Opposition parties held protests in different parts of the country over the rise of prices of diesel and petrol but the government is unmoved. While hiking in Petrol and Diesel prices adversely affect directly to a big chunk of people it hits hard indirectly to the entire populace. But what hit the hardest to all of us the Cooking Gas in our kitchen feeds us all to survive.
Cooking gas LPG price was hiked by Rs 50 per cylinder across all categories, including subsidised fuel and those availed by Ujjwala scheme beneficiaries – the fourth increase in rates in a month's time.
LPG prices have gone up to Rs 870. 50 paisa per 14.2-kg cylinder in Jammu and Rs. 952 in Kupwara since the beginning of March 2021, price data from state-owned oil marketing companies showed. The increase is applicable across all categories, including subsidised and non-subsidised users. The LPG cylinder prices in the rest of the towns in Jammu and Kashmir range between these two range points.
While the government claims that the LPG is available only at one rate, market price, across the country, their own daily price chart shows different rates at different states and further at different rates within the individual state. The government, however, gives a small subsidy to select customers. However, this subsidy has been eliminated in metros and major cities through successive price increases over the past couple of years.
LPG prices were hiked first by Rs 25 per cylinder on 4 February, followed by another Rs 50 per cylinder increase on 15 February and Rs 25 raised on 25 February. Prices have been on the rise since December and rates have cumulatively gone up by Rs 175 per cylinder.
Allaying concerns of people over the upward spiralling of fuel price, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the price will decrease as the winter season ends.
“Increase in petroleum price in the international market has affected consumers too. Prices will come down a little as winter goes away. It is an international matter, price is high due to increase in demand, it happens in winter. It will come down as the season ends,” the Union Minister said.
But there is no reprieve at all rather situation has been going worst even when the winter has passed and summer has set in various parts of the country. One fails to understand the reasons why there has been such a spike in the price of diesel and petrol in recent days. But the Opposition and the people at large remain unconvinced. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who had repeatedly hit out at the government over the rising prices took to Twitter once again to lambast the Narendra Modi-led Central government terming that it is looting the public. It should be ensured that the general public is not affected by fuel and LPG prices.
