CPI MP, Gurudas Dasgupta on Thursday criticised the Manmohan Singh government for doubling the gas price from $4.2 per mbtu to $8.4 mbtu terming it as an anti-people decision which will face strong opposition from the Left parties.
Reacting to the CCEA approval for doubling the gas price, Mr. Dasgupta said it was a disastrous decision which was opposed by four Cabinet Ministers during the meeting. “Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia were pushing the line of the Petroleum Ministry for doubling the price of gas. It will badly impact the power and fertiliser sectors and put a huge financial burden on the people of this country,” he added.
He said despite senior Cabinet Ministers like Jairam ramesh, Jaipal Reddy and Jyotirditya Scindia opposing the decision, the Prime Minister decided to go ahead with the hike in gas price which was shameful. “This hike will lead to hike of Rs. 2 per unit in power tariff, price of fertilisers and cost of transportation. The ultimate burden will be on the common in order to benefit few corporate entities. We will continue to stubbornly oppose it inside and outside Parliament,” he said.
