Nitish Kumar criticises hike in cooking gas price

PATNA: Criticising today's hike in price of non-subsidised cooking gas, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said the decision will hit hard the common man as this will disturb their budgets.

He was reacting to hike in the price of non-subsidised cooking gas ( LPG), which consumers buy beyond the cheaper quota of six cylinders, today by Rs 26.50 to Rs 922 per unit on firming international rates.

Kumar criticised the Centre for leaving daily need item like LPG on the dynamics of the international market much to the discomfort of the masses.

Criticising the economic policy being pursued by the UPA government at the Centre, Kumar said during NDA regime the interest of citizens were protected by providing LPG cylinders even in remotest area expeditiously at lower rates.

The 14.2-kg cooking gas cylinder that consumers buy beyond their entitled six bottles at subsidised rates, will now cost Rs 922, up from Rs 895.50 in Delhi, according to Indian Oil Corporation, the nation's largest fuel retailer.

The government had in September restricted the supply of subsidised domestic LPG cylinders to six per household in a year.

Any requirement above this will have to be bought at market rate, which is more than double the subsidised price of Rs 410.42 per cylinder in Delhi.

The CM, who had gone to review arrangements for November 4 "Adhikar rally" at Gandhi Maidan, said demand for special status is the demand of every citizen of the state which the Centre would not be able to ignore for long.