Rahul calls for raising LPG subsidy to 12 cylinders

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi Friday called for increasing the quota of subsidised cooking gas (LPG) cylinders from nine to 12 per household in a year.

"We need 12 cylinders, nine cylinders are not sufficient. People of India and its womenfolk want 12 cylinders," Gandhi told party delegates at the All India Congress Committee meeting .

Petroleum Minister M. Veerappa Moily had told reporters Sunday that a final decision in the matter will be taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA).

"If that proposal (for hiking the LPG cap) comes, we need to examine pros and cons.
Ultimately, the decision will be taken by CCEA (Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs) or CCPA (Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs)," he said at the Petrotech 2014 international oil and gas conference.

Moily said he had read reports about Rahul Gandhi taking up the issue of raising the LPG cap with the prime  minister.

Hiking the cap to 12 cylinders would result in an additional fuel subsidy burden of between Rs.3,300 crore - Rs.5,800 crore for the government.