Reduction in LPG prices will provide more comfort to sisters, says PM : Mamata sees impact of Oppn alliance, BJP hails decision

PTI, NEW DELHI, AUG 29, 2023 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday hailed the Union government's announcement of a Rs 200 per cylinder cut in prices of domestic cooking gas, saying the festival of Raksha Bandhan is about "increasing happiness within the family" and this reduction will provide more comfort to sisters and make their life easier. 

"The festival of Raksha Bandhan is about increasing happiness within the family. The reduction in gas prices will provide more comfort to sisters in my family and make their life easier. May every sister of mine be happy and healthy, this is my wish from God," Modi said in a post in Hindi on X. 

However, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said the Centre's decision to slash LPG prices by Rs 200 as an impact of the I.N.D.I.A Opposition alliance. 

"Till now, only TWO meetings have been held in the past TWO months by the INDIA alliance and today, we see that LPG prices have gone down by Rs 200. Yeh hai #INDIA ka dum!" Mamata said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. 

Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh also dubbed the Centre's move as a "poll gimmick" ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. A 14.2-kg LPG cylinder in Kolkata costs now Rs 1,129, and it will come down to Rs 929 when the new price comes into effect on Wednesday. BJP leaders, including Union ministers, on Tuesday hailed the Union government's decision to slash cooking gas price, with party president J P Nadda calling it Prime Minister Narendra Modi's gift to women ahead of Raksha Bandhan. 

Calling it a "drastic" cut in the price of LPG cylinder, the BJP president said the Narendra Modi government's decision will benefit 33 crore consumers. 

"Heartfelt gratitude for the decision taken by the Cabinet under the chairmanship of respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi to drastically cut the price of cooking gas," Nadda said in a post on 'X'. Now, Ujjwala beneficiaries will get LPG at Rs 700 and all other consumers at Rs 900, he said. 

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman thanked Prime Minister Modi for the Rs 200 cut in the price of cooking gas. "Marking Onam today and Raksha Bandhan 2023, Cabinet takes a decision to slash the price by Rs 200 for all domestic cooking gas cylinders," Sitharaman said in a post on 'X'.