TN Hotels' body requests Centre to withdraw order on supply of commercial LPG cylinders
Chennai (PTI): The Tamil Nadu Hotels Association, a body representing the hotels and restaurants in the state, has appealed to the Centre to withdraw its order instructing oil marketing companies to suspend commercial LPG cylinders.
While understanding that the government has issued such an order arising out of the conflict in the Middle Eastern countries, the association's president M Venkadasubbu, stressed that such a decision would severely affect the hotels and eateries and large number of people employed in the sector.
ALSO READ: Domestic LPG cylinder costlier by Rs 60, commercial up Rs 115 amid West Asia conflict
"Hotels and restaurants are primarily dependent on using commercial gas cylinders. Therefore, if the supply of these commercial gas cylinders is not regularised, hotels and eateries will be forced to suspend their operations," he said in a statement here on Saturday.
It would largely hit lakhs of workers employed in the sector, he cautioned.
Venkadasubbu urged the government to withdraw such a directive, and oil companies to take up measures to ensure uninterrupted delivery of commercial LPG cylinders.
On March 6, the government invoked sparingly used emergency powers to direct oil refineries to ramp up LPG production as it looks to increase the availability of domestic cooking gas to hedge against potential disruptions from the widening Middle East conflict.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the prices of domestic LPG and commercial cylinders were hiked by a steep Rs 60 and Rs 114.5, respectively, amid rising energy costs linked to the conflict.
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Will vacate one of two assembly seats won in 10 days: BJP''s Suvendu
Kolkata (PTI): BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur and secured Nandigram for three times in a row in the recent assembly polls, said on Wednesday that he would vacate one of the two constituencies within 10 days.
Adhikari also asserted that the party's central leadership would decide which constituency he would retain.
"I will vacate one seat within 10 days. The party will decide which one I retain. I will not forget my responsibility towards the people of Bhabanipur and Nandigram," he said.
Adhikari on Monday defeated Banerjee in Bhabanipur by over 15,000 votes, puncturing what was long seen as her safest political refuge and delivering a decisive psychological blow to the TMC, amid a sweeping BJP surge across West Bengal.
Addressing party workers and supporters in Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district, the BJP leader appealed to them not to take out victory processions immediately and instead maintain peace.
"Do not take out victory rallies now. Maintain peace and discipline. Celebrate after May 9, after taking permission," he told party workers.
State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya on Wednesday announced that the oath-taking ceremony of the new government will be held on May 9 at Brigade Parade Ground.
Referring to alleged attacks on BJP workers during the TMC regime, Adhikari said he would not forget the “atrocities" faced by them and assured them of taking appropriate action against perpetrators through legal processes.
"I was part of the 2011 ‘poribartan’ (change), and now I am part of the real change. I offer my gratitude to the people of Nandigram," Adhikari said.
He was referring to the TMC's victory in 2011 when the Mamata Banerjee party dismantled the 34-year Left Front regime in the state.
Adhikari offered prayers at a Hanuman statue in Nandigram and remembered the BJP workers, who had died in political violence.
"We will work in such a way that the BJP government in Bengal stays for 100 years," he said, expressing hope that the BJP’s vote share in the state would rise from the current 46 per cent to 60 per cent in future elections.
The BJP leader also assured residents of Nandigram of improved drinking water supply and better hospital and education infrastructure.
