Patna: Opposition lawmakers on Tuesday reached the Bihar state assembly carrying empty liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders on their heads to protest the steep hike in prices of petroleum products. The prices of LPG cylinders and fuel have registered sharp increases in the past month, upsetting the budgets of most people.
Carrying cylinders on their heads and wearing garlands of onions, dozens of lawmakers from the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) shouted slogans in the portico of the state assembly. They charged the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government with playing a cruel joke with the poor masses.
“The poor villagers can’t afford to buy cooking gas cylinders as the price of a single cylinder has now touched Rs1,000. They are selling these cylinders under the Prime Minister Ujjwala Scheme to buy goods,” RJD lawmaker Birendra Kumar Singh told the media on Tuesday. He said the price of a single LPG cylinder has risen by Rs125 in the past month itself.
“How will the poor villagers battling for meals buy these cylinders to cook food?” asked the lawmaker, alleging inflation had touched a new high since the NDA government returned to power at the centre.
Another group of lawmakers protested with garlands of onions to highlight the soaring prices of the common commodity. “Onions have gone dearer and are now out of reach of the same farmers who produced them,” said Kiran Devi, another RJD lawmaker. Another lawmaker Rekha Devi said although onion prices were registering an increase at repeated intervals, the common farmers were unable to get their benefits.
“Onion is selling at the rate of Rs50 a kg while the potato too has become costlier. How will the common people survive?” asked Rekha Devi who represents Masaurhi seat in Bihar assembly. The protesting lawmakers threatened to protest on the streets if the government failed to control inflation. Bihar agriculture minister Amarendra Pratap Singh said the government was taking full care of the farmers and the opposition members had nothing to worry about.
Earlier, Congress lawmakers reached the House with clay-made ovens and fuel wood in hand to protest the hike in petrol prices.