₹200 subsidy on gas cylinder, Centre’s ‘rankshabandgan’ gift to women; Opposition calls it another ‘jumla’ ahead of 2024 polls

Calling it the Center’s ‘Rakshabandhan and Onam Gift’, the Union Cabinet has announced a subsidy of ₹ 200 on all domestic LPG cylinders. In addition, the Union Cabinet has announced an additional subsidy of ₹ 200 under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna, the beneficiaries will now be entitled to a subsidy of ₹400.

“The prices of the LPG gas cylinders for domestic use have been brought down by ₹ 200 per cylinder, for each and every user. At the same time, 75 lakhs new gas connections will be given under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries are already getting ₹ 200 subsidy...but they will also benefit from the decrease in the rate, that means the rate reduction for the 'Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana' beneficiaries will be ₹ 400 per cylinder," said Union Minister Anurag Thakur. He further stated that this is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Rakshabandhan and Onam gift to all his mothers and the sister of the country. Taking it to X, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman has lauded the Prime Minister’s initiative and called it his 'Sneha Upahar' on the occasion on Raksha Bandhan and Onam to all the women of this country.

It is important to note that the rate cuts and the subsidy on domestic LPG comes ahead of Assembly polls in 5 states, namely, Chattisgarh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Rajasthan, scheduled later this year. Moreover, this comes ahead f the all important Lok Sabha elections of 2024.

Taking a swipe at the Union Government’s move ahead of all the elections, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee tweeted, “Till now, only TWO meetings have been held in the past TWO months by the INDIA alliance and today, we see that LPG prices have gone down by Rs. 200. ये है #INDIA का दम! (Such is the power of the Opposition alliance INDIA)”

Currently, the cost of a domestic LPG cylinder is over 1000 rupees in all the metros across the country. Moreover, the price of a domestic LPG cylinder was increased by ₹ 50 in July by the oil marketing companies such as Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, Indian Oil Corporation, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited. Previously, the prices were hiked twice in May.