Delhi BJP demands rollback of hike in gas prices

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here Sunday threatened to launch an agitation against the Congress government if it did not roll back the hike in prices of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Piped Natural Gas (PNG).

The price of CNG was increased Rs.3.70 per kg Saturday from Rs.41.90 to Rs.45.60 per kg. The PNG rate was also raised from Rs.24.50 per standard cubic meters (scm) to Rs.27.50 per scm for consumption of up to 30 scm in two months.

Slamming the Congress government, Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel said: "This hike would impact commuters, buses, autorickshaws, taxis and private vehicle owners. The steep price of CNG due to unabated periodical hikes would discourage people from using CNG, as the price gap between diesel and CNG has been dramatically reduced."

"This government has got all its policies wrong and is moving towards discouraging the use of clean fuel like CNG. This would further increase pollution in the city," Goel said.

He added that the increase in the price of PNG would place an additional financial burden on households already struggling with high inflation.

In Delhi, there are around seven lakh CNG-run vehicles, including private cars and public transport, and around 3.5 households that use PNG.