Now, AAP-RIL battle at poll panel doors

In a letter to the chief election commissioner V S Sampath, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal said, "This policy decision, which the government is set to implement from April 1 is a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct, since it is directly aimed at providing huge financial benefits to Reliance Industries Limited and falls within the ambit of corrupt practices during the elections."

He added that the government decision is likely to cost the country Rs 54,500 crore every year and it must be probed by the EC "how much money has been provided by the RIL to the Congress and other parties for spending in the elections."

The party also highlighted that it was the Planning Commssion Deputy Chairperson, Montek Singh Ahluwalia who raised the issue and wanted the government to approach the EC before going ahead with price hike. Heading the Delhi government, Kejriwal had filed an FIR with its anti corruption wing to investigate the alleged collusion between some ministers of the central government and the RIL in raising the gas prices on February 11.

The Cabinet Committee Economic Affairs had decided on December 20 last year to allow RIL to draw a higher gas price from April 1, asking the company to furnish a bank guarantee to cover its liability in case the gas hoarding charges against it are proved. The bank guarantee would be equivalent to the incremental revenue that RIL may get from the new gas price.