Protest against latest hike in price of LPG cylinder by Rs 50 in Assam's Lakhimpur

Lakhimpur: The latest hike in the price of cooking gas by Rs 50 per cylinder has drawn strong reaction from consumers and organizations in Lakhimpur district.

Notably, the domestic LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), the household cooking gas supplied in cylinders, has become costlier by Rs 50 each from July 6 as State-run retailers passed on the impact of the higher international benchmark rate. In the absence of subsidy, the fourth increase of the same since March has at present stretched household budgets grappling with high motor fuel prices and last month's imposition of GST on condiments and daily consumables. The rate of 14.2 kg domestic LPG cylinder was last increased by Rs 4 on May 19. On the other hand, on May 7, the LPG cylinder became costlier by Rs 50 as against the rate of Rs 949.50 on March 22. Further, on March 22 also, there was a hike of Rs 50 in the price of the cylinder. The series of hikes has turned the lack of subsidy a sore point with consumers. The government had scrapped the LPG subsidies since May 2020, taking advantage of fall in global energy prices due to the pandemic. But it is in no mood to restore the support when the cost of refills has hit record levels.

Under such circumstances, opposing the hike in cooking gas cylinders by Rs 50 again, the Lakhimpur district committee of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) on Friday initiated protest in front of the Lakhimpur Medical College and Hospital. During the demonstration, the party workers and supporters shouted slogans demanding the government not to increase the price of cooking gas cylinders and to stop the hike in prices of gas cylinders.

"The Central Government must reply in whose interest the decision to increase the price of all essential commodities, including gas cylinders, is taken. Public should launch a countrywide movement against the rise of prices of all essential commodities," said Prajjwal Deb, a member of the Assam State Committee of the SUCI (C) while participating in the protest programme. He set a copy of the decision taken to hike the price of LPG cylinders to fire during the demonstration.

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