Poll panel to look into Kejri's complaint on gas price hike

The Election Commission will deliberate on the complaint made by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal on the rise in the price of natural gas. “The EC will look into it and the urgency of going ahead with the decision,” Election Commissioner H S Brahma told reporters on Friday.

Kejriwal had sought the intervention of the EC by putting on hold the government decision of nearly doubling the price of natural gas. In a letter to the chief election commissioner on Thursday, Kejriwal said, “This policy decision, which the government is set to implement on April 1, is a clear violation of the model code of conduct, since it is directly aimed at providing huge financial benefits to Reliance Industries and falls within the ambit of corrupt practices during the elections.” Further, he wrote, “It is estimated that the government decision is likely to cost the country Rs 54,500 crore every year. It must be probed by the EC how much money has been provided by the RIL to the Congress and other parties for spending in the elections.”

Kejriwal added that the Supreme Court was currently hearing the matter. “I would request you to direct the central government not to implement its decision till the election process in the country is over, as it will affect a large section of the population,” he argued.