Left parties slam Centre on fuel and LPG cylinder hike

A worker carries an LPG cylinder, in Nagpur, Maharashtra, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. The domestic cooking gas LPG price was hiked by Rs 50 per cylinder across India.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Criticising the government for the recent hike in price of gas cylinders and the imposition of special excise duty on petrol and diesel, the Left parties called it an attack on the working people and demanded an immediate rollback on Tuesday (April 8, 2025).

In a statement here, CPI(M) Polit Bureau said, the rise in gas prices are bound to have a crippling impact on the already burdened lives of the people due to inflation. “Instead of passing the benefits of falling international prices of oil and gas to the people, the government is imposing additional burden. In the name of special excise duty, it wants to accrue all the revenues for itself violating the federal principles,” the party said. 

Also read | Trinamool opposes hike of LPG cylinder prices, calls it anti-poor

Condemning the hike, the Communist Party of India called the move “yet another attack on the livelihood of the working people.” “Ever since the BJP came to power, LPG prices have seen a consistent rise, even during periods when global crude oil prices have remained historically low. Instead of passing the benefit to the people, the Modi regime has diverted it to benefit oil companies and private Corporates,” CPI General Secretary D. Raja said. The party has demanded that the consumer-oriented subsidy of ₹250 per LPG cylinder be reinstated for general consumers immediately. “For those under the Below Poverty Line category and enrolled in the PM Ujjwala Scheme, at least six cylinders per year must be provided without payment. Access to clean cooking fuel is not a luxury, it is a basic necessity and a right,” Mr. Raja further said.