LPG price hike: PDP workers stage protest, press for raising cap on subsidised cylinders

SRINAGAR: Opposition Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) today took out a rally from the party headquarters here to protest hike in cooking gas price and press for increasing the cap on subsidised LPG cylinders in Jammu and Kashmir.

Led by party president Mehbooba Mufti, the PDP leaders and activists staged a brief sit-in at Regal chowk in the heart of the city after a heavy contingent of police stopped the rally from heading towards the historic Lal Chowk.

"We are deeply concerned at the steady price rise on LPG and the problems suffered by the common man due to anti-people policies of the National Conference-led coalition government," Mehbooba told reporters.

Describing the price rise on cooking gas and shortage of LPG as a "grave situation", she said, "We demand the state government to announce subsidy on the LPG so that consumers in the state can get at least 12 gas cylinders annually against the cap of six announced by the Centre."

Mehbooba said the six subsidised cylinders per year are not enough for the people as LPG is not only being used for cooking purposes but also to light the houses and heating purposes during winter when the temperatures dip below freezing point and there is acute shortage of electricity.

"Kashmir is a cold place and there is a possibility of upheaval during the winter if LPG gets out of reach of the common people who cannot afford LPG without subsidy," the PDP leader said.

Questionig the government's claim that it is not in a position to provide subsidy on the LPG, the PDP leader said the statement of the government on the issue is nothing but a crude joke with the people of the state.

"If the Congress-led government at other places announced the subsidy on the LPG, why the state government is expressing its inability to follow suit," she said.