'LPG subsidy for people above Rs 10 lakh income might be stopped'

The NDA government is mulling to lift the subsidy on LPG cylinder for consumers whose annual income is above Rs 10 lakh, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said here today.

"Dharmendra Pradhan (Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas) told me that the Government has found many of illegal gas connections and is saving thousands of crore of rupees by stopping supply to those consumers," the Union Minister for Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs said.

"They (the government) are also planning that the consumers whose income is above Rs 10 lakh, gas subsidy will not be given. Why do they need subsidy? Why ministers need subsidy? So far, 30 lakh people have given up LPG subsidy. That subsidy will be given to poor people," he said.

Naidu was speaking at an awards function organised by Federation of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Chambers of Commerce. He said the government has so far brought out about 35 changes in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy across 15 sectors.

Seeking support from the opposition parties for passing some crucial Bills such as GST Bill, the Union Minister said the government is willing to talk to them on pursuing its agenda.

"Our government agenda is development, good governance, elimination of poverty and empowerment of youth and women. The opposition should also cooperate with the government in pursuing these reforms. People want politics of development. We seek support of all political parties in pursuing developmental agenda in the larger interest of the country," he said.

Taking a dig at those criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Naidu said they should respect the mandate of the people with tolerance.

"Knowingly or unknowingly, some incidents took place in the country and one should not magnify them and show the country in poor light," he said. He said India is moving on the path of development and attracting investments from outside.