After LPG price hike, Congress holds presser with cylinders on table
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New Delhi: A day after the centre hiked the price of LPG cylinders in the national capital by ₹ 50 - a non-subsidised cylinder will now cost ₹ 769 - the Congress has lashed out at "Narendra Modi's ruthless and immoral government... is breaking the back of every housewife and common man".
The opposition party drove its point home at a press conference Monday morning, which began with two 14.2 LPG cylinders - the non-subsidised units of which have seen four price hikes over the past three months - being hoisted atop the briefing table.
"Narendra Modi's ruthless and immoral government is not only being unjust to farmers, but is now breaking the back of every housewife and common man," the Congress' Supriya Shrinate said
"In 10 days, the price of LPG (liquified petroleum gas) cylinder has increased by ₹ 75. On February 4 it was increased by ₹ 25 and now from February 15, it has been increased by ₹ 50," she added.
"Not only this, since December 2020 the price has increased by by ₹ 175... in 2 months... you will remember there were two increases of ₹ 50," she added, "This cylinder (gesturing to one on the table) which sold in Delhi for ₹ 594 in December, today sells for ₹ 769."
Presently, the centre subsidises purchase of 12 cylinders of 14.2 kg each per household every year. The customer has to make any additional purchases of LPG cylinders at the market price.
The Congress demands, Ms Shrinate said, that the centre roll back the price hikes and the increase in excise duty, which was imposed earlier this month during the union budget presentation.
The party also flagged petrol and diesel prices; both were hiked today for a seventh straight day.
"As you all know, petrol and diesel prices have crossed ₹ 100... whether it is petrol, diesel or LPG prices, it affects both the rich and the poorest... but the government does not care," she said, pointing out the centre has raised excise duties a dozen times so far and earned ₹ 24 lakh crore.
"The same excise duty in our government was ₹ 3.50 per litre for diesel (it is now ₹ 32 per litre). For petrol it was ₹ 9 per litre (it is now ₹ 33 per litre). Only by withdrawing this, will the general public will get huge relief," the Congress spokesperson said.
Earlier today Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also spoke out against the price hike, accusing the Narendra Modi government of "looting from the public".
Mr Gandhi tweeted in Hindi: "Janta se loot, sirf 'do' ka vikaas" and tore into Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas' - his mantra for inclusive development.
जनता से लूट,
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 15, 2021
सिर्फ़ ‘दो’ का विकास।#LPGPriceHike pic.twitter.com/GHdNcQJFYq
LIVE: Congress Party briefing by @SupriyaShrinate, Spokesperson, AICC https://t.co/q64tHO8wGh
— All India Mahila Congress (@MahilaCongress) February 15, 2021
Courtesy: www.ndtv.com
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EAM Jaishankar meets Jamaican PM, gifts over 10 BHISHM Cubes
Kingston (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday met Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and discussed ways to further deepen "political, economic and people-to-people cooperation."
Jaishankar also conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Holness.
"Pleased to call on Prime Minister @AndrewHolnessJM in Kingston. Conveyed the greetings of PM @narendramodi," Jaishankar posted on X.
"Discussed deepening our political, economic and people-to-people cooperation. Value his commitment towards further strengthening India-Jamaica relations," the post further read.
Also, the external affairs minister handed over 10 BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita & Maitri) Cubes as a gift to Jamaica.
"Formally handed over 10 BHISHM Cubes as a gift from India to Jamaica, in the presence of PM @AndrewHolnessJM, Health Minister @christufton and FM @kaminajsmith," Jaishankar posted on X.
"The BHISHM Cube mobile hospital system, designed for rapid deployment, will help Jamaica during disasters and emergencies. The gift of these cubes is a statement of friendship, a commitment to disaster preparedness, and an outcome of innovation," the post said.
Jaishankar arrived in Kingston on Saturday evening, marking the first leg of his nine-day tour of Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, aimed at further strengthening India's strategic and cultural ties with the Caribbean nations.
Earlier in the day, he interacted with the Indian diaspora and discussed India's ongoing transformation in infrastructure, human development and technology-driven governance and entrepreneurship with them.
He also highlighted the cricket bond between both countries as India gifted a scoreboard to Jamaica.
A scoreboard was dedicated at Sabina Park in Kingston. It is the home of the Jamaica cricket team and is the only Test cricket ground in the Caribbean island nation.
The minister expressed hope that the new scoreboard would witness many memorable innings, including those symbolising the enduring friendship between the two countries.
Cricket has long been a strong cultural bridge between India and Jamaica, which is part of the West Indies cricket team.
Jamaican players, including Chris Gayle, Courtney Walsh and Michael Holding, have played a major role in shaping the legacy of West Indies cricket in the international arena, contributing to its dominance in earlier decades and its continued global appeal.
