Pratibha Singh refutes Smriti Irani clams of Ujjwal free LPG connection

Congresss state president Pratibha Singh refuted Union Minister Smriti Irani clams of disbursing 1.36 lakh LPG cylinders to women under Ujjwala free gas connections in Himachal. Addressing a press conference here today Ms Singh said that Union Minister seemed to be not aware with reality as  only 9415 women were able to refill LPG cylinders in the state due to exorbitant prices. Congresss leader said that  only 51 percent of the households in Himachal have cooking gas. Just ahead of  Smriti Irani’s Rampur visit on Saturday for Assembly canvassing Pratibha Singh said that during Smriti Irani earlier visit under UPA rule raye of LPG cylinder was only  Rs 450 however Union Minister had called it very expensive. She said that people of Rampur expect to explaination from Smriti why promise she made in her past visit didn’t fulfill. Pratibha Singh said that as soon as the Modi government came to power at the center, instead of reducing the prices of LPG, it withdraw subsidy and then  increased the prices of LPG.  The situation is that today the LPG cylinder has crossed Rs 1100.  In Himachal, the BJP is talking about giving free gas connections to the people under Ujjwala and Mukhyamantri Grihini Yojna from every platform, but women are unable to fill the gas due to the cost.  On 15 June 2020, Union Minister Smriti Irani said that 1.36 lakh gas connections have been given in Himachal under the Ujjwala scheme in 2018-19. In Himachal only 83177 cylinders were refilled in 2018-19. Due to exorbitant cost of cylinders, only 9415 cylinders could filled by women in 2021-22. The Central Government had given a subsidy of 37209 crores on gas in 2019 in view of the elections. In 2022, only 242 crore subsidy was given by the central government. Contrary to the government’s claims of 100 pc  gas connection, only 51.7 percent of the households in Himachal have LPG. Congress leader Alka Lamba said that due to inflation and rising LPG prices, women of Himachal met under the Ujjwala scheme and now want to return the empty cylinders to Smriti Irani during her visit to Rampur.  They will demand that either the gas rates should be reduced or the government should take them back. Alka Lamba said that Modi government became first Goverment in the history of Country  which imposed GST on milk, curd and children’s pencil. Congresss leaders said that Congress wanted to provide immediate  token amount of 1500 rupees pet month to give relief from inflation

Tomorrow local women would show black flags to Union Minister Smriti Irani and to burden the people from skyrocketing inflation, Alka Lamba added.