Goa TMC demands to reduce the LPG cylinder rates by half and fulfill the forgotten promise of delivering 3 free cylinders in their election manifesto
Launching a scathing attack on the reduction of LPG cylinder prices, Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) General Secretary Rakhi Naik Prabhudessai along with TMC Joint Convenor Samil Volvoikar and TMC Minority Cell Co-ordinator Sultana Shaikh demanded to reduce the LPG cylinder rates by half. TMC also demanded to reduce the rates of petroleum products oil and diesel, and food grains commodities. Moreover, TMC also appealed to the BJP-led government to fulfill the forgotten promise of delivering 3 free cylinders in their election manifesto, during a press conference held in the party office.
Coming down heavily on the BJP government and their terming of the reduction of Rs. 200 on the LPG cylinder as a Raksha Bandhan gift for sisters, Rakhi Naik Prabhudessai stated “For last nine years there was almost a rise of more than 160 percent. During this period of nine years, nine times Rakhsha Bandhan festival was celebrated, but this gift was not given to us all these years. Reducing the LPG cylinder price by meagre Rs. 200 cannot be called a gift since the gift is always free. Instead, Goa TMC calls it a gift voucher by the BJP government to market the upcoming elections in the five states.” Raising a question on the timing of declaring the reduction in LPG cylinder prices, Prabhudessai said, “Is it due to the assembly elections to be held in five states (Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana) in the next five months and the Lok Sabha elections in 2024?”
Slamming the Pramod Sawant-led BJP government for failing to keep the promises from the BJP manifesto in 2022, TMC General Secretary Rakhi Naik Prabhudessai stressed “Women voters trusted BJP’s promise from the manifesto of giving three free LPG cylinders and voted the BJP to power. But now the BJP has modified its earlier promise, stating that the free scheme will be given only to Below Poverty Line (BPL) beneficiaries. However, even the modified promise has not yet been fulfilled.”
Prabhudessai further questioned Goa CM Pramod Sawant asking if it is feasible to reduce the prices of the cylinder now, why was it not done earlier considering the crude oil prices have been low and stable? This decision was taken only after facing a defeat in the Karnataka elections and facing pressure from the INDIA bloc. Is this a tactic to divert the attention of the common man?” Prabhudessai demanded to slash the rate of LPG cylinders at least by Rs. 500.
Reiterating the party’s demand Prabhudessai said, “The real gift voucher for women and sisters would have been if the rates of the LPG cylinder were reduced by Rs.500 and 3 free LPG cylinders were given to the families.