Ahead of Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a cut of Rs 100 per LPG cylinder, on the occasion of International Women’s Day (Friday).
The reduction in price is likely to benefit nearly 33 crore households that LPG cylinders including the beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwal Yojana (PMUY), which covers over ten crore households. The price cut of Rs 100 would be additional to an existing subsidy of Rs 300 per gas cylinder.
PM Modi’s Announcement on Women’s Day
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Prime Minister writes on platform X, “Today, on Women’s Day, our Government has decided to reduce LPG cylinder prices by Rs. 100. This will significantly ease the financial burden on millions of households across the country, especially benefiting our Nari Shakti.”
“By making cooking gas more affordable, we also aim to support the well-being of families and ensure a healthier environment. This is in line with our commitment to empowering women and ensuring ‘Ease of Living’ for them,” PM added.
This is the second instance of the government announcing the reduction in the price of gas cylinders in the current fiscal year, ahead of the Assembly election.
Reduction in Price of LPG Cylinder
Following the announcement, state-run Oil marketing companies (OMCs)-Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, knuckle down to reduce the price of LPG cylinders from midnight.
With the price reduction, the standard 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder would be –
- Delhi – Rs 803
- Mumbai – Rs 802.50
Kolkata – Rs 829- Chennai – Rs 818.50
The LPG cylinder price for beneficiary of PMUY with subsidy benefit would reduce to –
- Delhi – Rs 503
- Mumbai – Rs 502.50
- Kolkata – Rs 529
- Chennai – Rs 518.50
Opposition attacks the Modi Government
Criticism from Congress
Congress MP Supriya Sule called the announcement government’s ‘jumla’.
“I am not surprised at all. Look at the timing. They have been in power for the last 9 years. Why didn’t they think of this earlier? Just when the election, I mean it will probably be announced in the next 5 or 6 days, “yeh aur ek jumla hai“…In our government, the cylinder was ₹430. Why don’t they match it?” MP said.
Calling BJP clever, Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput stated, “They sell (LPG) cylinders of ₹395 at ₹1000, and then PM Modi announces reducing it by ₹100.”
Criticism from Samajwadi Party
Samajwadi Party Mahila Sabha national president Juhie Singh called Modi’s PMUY fraud and said that Women hold a large population of the society, and without their economic development there would not be development in the society.
“Cylinder prices are increasing. I think PM Modi should visit not only the ‘sponsored part’ of the villages but actually go and see how ‘Ujwala Yojna’ is a fraud,” she said.
Criticism from Trinamool Congress
TMC leader Sagarika Ghose called this a Modi government’s trick to woe voters for upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
“Just a few days before the general election 2024, the Modi government cuts LPG prices. Why could this have not been done earlier when women consumers were laboring under high LPG prices even when global prices were low? Now when elections are around the corner, down come LPG prices. Height of political cynicism! India needs a Pradhan Mantri, not an election Mantri,” she wrote on X.
Criticism of PM Modi by Women
The announcement by the PM, on the occasion of Women’s Day of reducing the price of gas cylinders appears to be sexist.
Doesn’t this mean PM Modi believes women only belong to the kitchen? What does this show about the idea the government has about the empowerment of women?
Instead of forming a more equal, safer system for women, policies towards women’s financial development, and inclusive spaces for all women from different social and economic backgrounds, the Modi government announced an LPG price reduction on International Women’s Day. Quite progressive, Isn’t it?
Also read : Commercial LPG cylinder price hiked by Rs 25, announce OMCs
