Cong asks its govts in states to give 9 subsidised cylinders

Congress-ruled states have been asked to raise the number of subsidised cylinders from the proposed six to nine for each household in a year, the party said Wednesday.

"The party has decided that our Chief Ministers in the Congress ruled states will provide nine subsidised cylinders annually to each household," party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters here.

The step comes after the Trinamool Congress withdrew support to the UPA government demanding total withdrawal of the decision on FDI, raising the cap on subsidised LPG from six to 12 cylinders and reduction of diesel hike from Rs 5 by Rs 3 or Rs 4 for reconsideration of her decision.

Asked whether the increased cap will be only for BPL category, Dwivedi said, "It will be for all".

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has already announced nine subsidised cylinders for BPL families in the city.

Union Ministers K V Thomas and Harish Rawat have expressed their disagreement with the annual cap of six subsidised LPG cylinders per family.

Congres has governments in Delhi, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Uttarkhand, Assam, Maharashtra, Arunchal Pradesh and Mizoram.

Sources in the party said that "step by step" positive steps from the government and Congress will continue.

There were indications yesterday that though there will be no roll-back but government may consider "minor adjustments" in the wake of pressure from within the Congress and Trinamool Congress's decision to withdraw support to the UPA.

Food Minister K V Thomas had written a letter to the Prime Minister saying that the Centre's move to cap the number of subsidised LPG cylinders at six per household a year "will not go well" with the middle class and suggested a slab system with a marginal hike in price for extra cylinders.