‘If you can’t help, at least don’t hurt’: Tamil Nadu CM slams Centre over LPG price hike

CHENNAI (Tamil Nadu): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday criticised the recent LPG price hike by the Central government, asking whether the stoves in people’s homes should be burning or their stomachs with hunger.

In a post on X, Stalin accused the BJP-led Central government of hiking excise duty on petrol and diesel prices despite a drop in global crude oil rates, stating that citizens are not asking for a price cut but merely begging for no further increases.

“Should the stoves in people’s homes be burning–or should their stomachs be burning with hunger? If you can’t help, at least don’t hurt” suits the sadistic BJP government perfectly,” the Tamil Nadu CM said on X.

“At a time when global crude oil prices have dropped, the people of this country are now in a pitiful situation–not even asking for a price cut, but begging the government to not increase it further!” he said.

Sharpening his attacks further, MK Stalin said that the price hike of cooking gas cylinders is like adding “salt to a burning wound.”

“Dear citizens, the BJP has made it a routine to drastically hike prices and then stage a drama of giving minor reductions just before elections. We’ve seen this act so many times, it’s almost become normal. To the Union BJP Government–Don’t wait for the elections to approach–roll back this price hike immediately!” the Tamil Nadu CM said.

Meanwhile, the Central government has raised the excise duties on diesel and petrol each by Rs 2 per litre, effective from Tuesday, according to a notification from the Department of Revenue.

Currently, the government charges excise duty of Rs 19.90 per litre on petrol. From Tuesday, it is going to be increased to Rs 21.90 a litre.

Similarly, the current excise duty on diesel is Rs 15.80 per litre, and it will increase to Rs 17.80 per litre effective Tuesday. The retail selling price of petrol in Delhi is Rs 94.77 per litre, and diesel is being sold for Rs 87.67 per litre.

Crude prices have softened over the past from over USD 70 per barrel to USD 63 per barrel on Monday, raising margins for the oil marketing companies (OMCs).

LPG cylinders, both Ujjwala and non-Ujjwala, will be Rs 50 dearer starting Tuesday, Minister Hardeep Puri announced on Monday at a press conference.

“The price per cylinder of LPG will increase by Rs 50. From Rs 500, it will go up to Rs 550 (for PMUY beneficiaries), and for others, it will go up from Rs 803 to Rs 853,” the minister said.

“This is a step which we will review as we go along. We review these every 2-3 weeks,” he added. (ANI)