New Delhi:
Sharad Pawar today became the latest UPA ally to voice some worries about the government's decision to cap subsidy on cooking gas or LPG. He reportedly said at a Cabinet meeting that there is need for clarity on what happens to people who have already used the quota of six subsidised LPG cylinders now allowed in a year.
In an unusual step, Mr Pawar raised the LPG issue despite it not being part of the official agenda; he brought it up as soon as the meeting ended, Sources in the cabinet say it's rare for ministers to speak out like Mr Pawar did on Thursday morning. He wanted clarity on what happens to people who have already used six subsidised cylinders by the time the government decided to ration them, He also reportedly pointed out that many housing societies had a common connection and would need to know how the new rule would affect them. And reportedly sought to know what measures the government is taking to check hoarding of LPG cylinders and sale in the black market.
Mr Pawar found support from his cabinet colleague, Ajit Singh. The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader and Civil Aviation Minister also spoke out on the issue.
The Prime Minister has reportedly asked the Petroleum Minster to look into the issues raised by Mr Pawar. There is some clarity now on Mr Pawar's first question - the government says people who had already used six LPG cylinders at subsidized rates before it announced the cap on September 13, will not be penalized and they will be allowed three more cylinders till March this year. But if they had used only two, they would be allowed four more till March.In Delhi, a subsidised LPG cylinder costs Rs 410.42. A non-subsidised cylinder costs Rs 921.50.
Mr Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party saw much tumult recently when the resignation of its senior leader and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar seemed to bring its relationship with partner Congress to a brink. But on the tough measures that the Manmohan Singh government has taken to push new reforms - which includes biting the fuel subsidy bullet - Mr Pawar's party has been unflinching in its support. It has, however, said in the past that the cap on subsidized LPG could be increased for lower income groups and that an economic criteria be used to ensure that the rich do not get the benefit of subsidised LPG.
The government has already suffered the walkout of its second biggest ally Mamata Banerjee, over the issues of diesel price hike, the LPG cap and allowing foreign direct investment in multibrand retail. Ms Banerjee's withdrawal of support caused the government to be pushed into a minority. It is currently propped up by Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati, both of whom provide external support to the government and both of whom have voiced strong misgivings about the new reforms.
The DMK, which is the government's second largest ally now, too is upset about the diesel price hike and particularly the cap of subsidised LPG cylinders.