The Central government had claimed that it would end up saving almost Rs. 22,000 crore in the financial years 2014-15 and 2015-16 after launching its two-pronged approach on cooking gas subsidy.
However, a CAG report to be tabled in Parliament during the ongoing session could seriously puncture the claim, according to reliable sources. The audit has found that the saving from people voluntarily giving up LPG subsidy and direct bank transfers adds up to less than Rs. 2,000 crore. The remaining saving is actually owing to the dramatic fall in the prices of LPG that is imported annually, >The Hindu's report said.
Politicians took to Twitter to voice their concern over the same.
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Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted, "Either PM and Petroleum minister don't know the truth of LPG savings or were misleading. What is worse?"
Either PM and Petroleum minister don't know the truth of LPG savings or were misleading. What is worse? >#Jumlanomics>pic.twitter.com/2F3PZPqhhg
— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury)>July 20, 2016
Congress MLA Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "How much has #ModiSarkar spent in advertising to propagate false #LPGSubsidy claims?" he tweeted.
>#GiveItUpModiJi Another lie, another spin. How much has >#ModiSarkar spent in advertising to propagate false >#LPGSubsidy claims?
— Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) >July 20, 2016
He called it another ingenuine 'Jumlanomics.'
>#GiveItUpModiji Govt falsely claims Rs 22000 Cr savings of LPG subsidy then 2000 Cr.Another ingenuine 'Jumlanomics'? >pic.twitter.com/048AAdgYjc
— Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) >July 20, 2016
AAP's Ashish Khetan too tweeted this article.
CAG audit nails Centre’s claim on LPG subsidy saving >https://t.co/HhIRmrBQ2N
— Ashish Khetan (@AashishKhetan) >July 20, 2016