Daijiworld Media Network - Bhopal
Bhopal, Apr 7: Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Monday launched a strong critique against the central government’s latest move to raise domestic LPG cylinder prices, calling it a “cruel blow” to ordinary citizens already grappling with runaway inflation.
At 78, the veteran Congress leader didn’t mince words, denouncing the Rs 50 hike in LPG rates as an "anti-people step" that would further strain household budgets already stretched thin by rising prices of everyday essentials.
“The price of pulses, vegetables, edible oil, and flour has already hit the roof. Now this hike in cooking gas will break the back of the middle class and poor families. This isn’t just a price rise — it’s a direct attack on people’s ability to feed their children,” Nath said in a statement.
He warned that the added burden could push more families into debt and leave them struggling to meet basic needs like education and healthcare. “At a time when people need relief, the government is doing the opposite — piling on more pressure,” he said.
Nath, who once held key economic portfolios including Commerce and Industry under the UPA government, also accused the BJP-led Centre of systematically dismantling subsidies meant to support vulnerable populations. He urged the government to immediately roll back the price hike in the interest of public welfare.
The criticism came in response to the announcement by Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who confirmed that from April 8, the price of domestic LPG cylinders would rise by Rs 50. Beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) will now pay Rs 550 per cylinder, while regular customers will pay Rs 853, up from the earlier price of Rs 803.
“These prices are reviewed every two to three weeks,” Puri said, adding that the move would be monitored going forward.
Kamal Nath’s remarks add to growing political backlash as rising fuel and food prices continue to dominate public discourse ahead of upcoming elections. Many opposition leaders are now using inflation as a rallying point to question the Centre’s economic priorities and its commitment to the common citizen.