With LPG prices rising after a freeze on hike for 168 days and petrol and diesel fares after 139 days, the Opposition on Tuesday pounded on the Narendra Modi government inside and outside Parliament, saying the increase came as the elections to five states were over.
The increase in prices that came 12 days after the Assembly election results reverberated in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha where Opposition MPs vociferously protested against the move demanding suspension of business to discuss the issue and when it was disallowed, they shouted slogans against the government.
The morning session of Rajya Sabha was washed out in Rajya Sabha as Opposition MPs shouted slogans leading to adjournments while in Lok Sabha, lawmakers from Congress, DMK, Trinamool Congress, NCP, JMM, CPI(M), CPI, Muslim League, RSP, MDMK and VCK walked out in protest against the move.
In Rajya Sabha, notices by Shaktisinh Gohil (Congress), Dola Sen (Trinamool Congress), Elamaram Kareem, John Brittas and Dr V Sivadasan (all CPI-M) to suspend the business to discuss the issue were disallowed by Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu saying that it could be raised during discussion on Demand for Grants.
As the protest continued despite Naidu’s appeal to allow the Zero Hour to function so that he could take up notices by 19 MPs, he adjourned the House till 12 noon. When the House reassembled, the scene was similar with some MPs in the Well of the House sloganeering, prompting Deputy Chairman Harivansh to adjourn the House till 2 PM.
Top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “The 'lockdown' imposed on gas, diesel and petrol prices has been lifted. The government will now continuously 'develop' the prices. Ask the Prime Minister about the epidemic of inflation, he will say 'Thaali Bajao', says
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said there would now be “daily vikas (hike)” in the prices of petrol and diesel while Prime Minister Modi has achieved the “target” of Rs 1,000 per LPG cylinder in most parts of the country.
“Congratulations to PM Modiji for achieving his 'target' of Rs 1000 per LPG cylinder in most parts of the country. There will now be daily 'vikas' in petrol and diesel prices as well. The only affordable things under Modi Govt are communalism and hatred. Everything else is expensive,” he tweeted.
Congress tweeted in Hindi from its official handle, “elections over, slapping begins.”
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav tweeted, "another gift of inflation from the BJP government for the public... LPG cylinder in Lucknow is close to Rs 1,000 and in Patna above Rs 1,000! Elections over, inflation begins."
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, “Big inflation - brought by BJP! Price of gas cylinders increased by Rs 50. Delhi and Mumbai Rs 949.50. Lucknow Rs 987.50, Kolkata Rs 976, Rs Chennai ₹ 965.50. People are saying, please return those good old days. Don't want "acche din" from Modi-ji.”
While the government insists that the oil companies decide on the prices of fuel, top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had on March 5 warned people that soon after elections on March 7, there would be a hike in fuel prices.
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