Reacting sharply to the ₹22,000 crore one-time grant approved by the Union Cabinet to three Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) working president and Industries and Commerce Minister KT Rama Rao questioned the special package offered to women. Why not those who are facing financial crisis. They are in trouble as subsidy on gas cylinders has been abolished and its prices have been increased.
The minister demanded from the central government to offer a similar package or subsidy to the gas users who are facing heavy financial burden.
The Industries Minister said that before Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, the cost of a gas cylinder was ₹ 400. He said the current price of a cylinder has gone up to ₹1,100.
Pointing out that Mr Modi had questioned the then Prime Minister when a gas cylinder cost ₹400, the minister asked what answer he had now for the people of the country.
The TRS working president said the BJP government is insensitive towards the middle class, whose savings have dwindled in the last two years due to COVID-19 and the lockdown.
The BJP government has removed the subsidy burden of ₹42,000 crore last year on 39 crore gas connection holders. The minister asked the people to choose whether they want Mr. Modi or the subsidy.
He said that the defeat of BJP should start with the kitchens of poor and middle class women.