Opposition leaders on Tuesday criticised the Centre`s reported decision to reduce the number of subsidised LPG cylinder refills available under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) from nine per year to four, reported the IANS.
Several leaders accused the government of weakening welfare support for low-income households and questioned its economic policies.
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit launched a sharp attack on the government, claiming that the reduction in subsidies reflected a decline in welfare measures.
He remarked that the Ujjwala scheme should now be called the “Andhkaar Scheme”, arguing that successive reductions in subsidised refills had diluted the programme`s original purpose.
Dikshit said previous governments had provided more extensive support and questioned why the number of subsidised cylinders had been reduced despite claims of economic progress.
Concerns over rising cost of living
The Congress leader also alleged that subsidies across several sectors had either been reduced or withdrawn over the years.
According to him, support on petrol, diesel, fertilisers and irrigation had been curtailed, while citizens were facing increasing taxes and charges in various areas of daily life.
He argued that such measures indicated growing financial pressure on households and raised questions about the government`s economic management.
RJD questions govt priorities
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Kumar Jha also criticised the move, saying the steady reduction in subsidised LPG refills had placed an additional burden on ordinary families.
He questioned why citizens should face cuts in essential welfare benefits and accused the government of failing to address the concerns of middle-class and lower-income households.
Jha also urged greater attention to the challenges faced by people at the grassroots level.
The criticism comes as the cost of supplying domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has reportedly increased significantly.
According to available estimates, the cost of supplying a domestic LPG cylinder has crossed Rs 1,600, while oil marketing companies are said to be incurring substantial losses on each subsidised cylinder sold.
The government has not yet issued a detailed response to the opposition`s criticism regarding the reduction in subsidised refills.
Welfare debate
The issue is expected to become a key political talking point, with opposition parties seeking to highlight rising household expenses and subsidy reductions ahead of future elections.
The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, launched to provide cleaner cooking fuel to economically weaker households, remains one of the government`s flagship welfare programmes.
(with IANS inputs)
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