Govt hasn't rolled back LPG price hike: BJP

SHIMLA: The BJP today said the government has only put its decision to hike LPG prices on hold, and not rolled back the proposal, in the wake of the elections in Himachal Pradesh and insisted that this anti-people and anti-women decision would prove costly for the Congress.

Speaking at a press conference here, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said, "The Central government has made anti-people moves and called them reforms. They hiked the price of diesel, then hiked the price of LPG and also put a cap on number of cylinders, and allowed FDI in multi-brand retail."

He described the Centre's political thinking as "strange" for calling these measures reforms.

"Three days before the polls here, the government hiked LPG prices by Rs 26 per cylinder. Besides being unfair, this is anti-people and especially anti-women," Jaitley said, adding that when at midnight the government realised its political implications it announced withdrawal of the decision.

"But the government has not rolled back the decision. They have said they are putting it on hold. I believe it will be on hold for only 72 hours. After 5 pm on November 4 they will allow it. Such a government should be taught a lesson. We will give them (Congress) a crushing defeat," Jaitley said.

He claimed that the people of Himachal Pradesh have a sense of satisfaction towards the Prem Kumar Dhumal government in the state and all its anger is towards the Centre.

Jaitley maintained that corruption indulged by the ministers of the UPA government is a major issue in the Assembly elections here. He said the Dhumal government had run several schemes for the benefit of the people and this will help the BJP win the polls.