LPG subsidy to be rationalised not cut: Pradhan

Pradhan had in Lok Sabha on Monday said the government has asked oil marketing companies to raise the prices of subsidised cooking gas by Rs 4 per cylinder every month.

Amid ruckus in the Rajya Sabha over LPG subsidy, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday said the subsidy on gas will not be cut, but would be rationalised. He also dubbed the opposition's uproar in the House as 'baseless'.

"Subsidy won't be cut down, it will only be rationalised. The uproar is baseless," news agency ANI quoted Pradhan as saying.

A united opposition today stalled the pre-noon proceedings in the Rajya Sabha protesting against the government's decision to hike the prices of domestic cooking gas (LPG) by Rs 4 per cylinder every month to eliminate all subsidies by next March.

Congress, SP, TMC, BSP and Left MPs stormed into the Well of the House shouting slogans seeking withdrawal of the decision, forcing Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to first adjourn the proceedings for 10 minutes and then till noon.

Pradhan had in Lok Sabha on Monday said the government has asked oil marketing companies to raise the prices of subsidised cooking gas by Rs 4 per cylinder every month.

"The government vide its order dated May 30, 2017, has again authorised PSU oil marketing companies to continue to increase the effective price of subsidised domestic LPG by Rs 4 per cylinder effective June 1, 2017, per month (excluding VAT) till the reduction of government subsidy to 'nil', or till March 2018, or till further orders, whichever is earliest," the minister had said.

At present, the government gives a subsidy of a little above Rs 58 on a domestic subsidised LPG cylinder and around Rs 28 is borne by the oil marketing companies.

OneIndia News with PTI inputs