Communist Party of India (Marxist) protests rising LPG cylinder prices

CPI(M) condemns the steep hike in prices and points out that the steep hike in the rates of commercial cylinders is bound to have a cascading effect. “Commercial establishments are bound to pass on the liability to the consumers, adding to their burdens and inflation. Many small establishments will be forced to close, leading to layoffs and huge job losses, which has already started happening.”

The emphasis is made on the fact that this will most adversely impact small households and migrant workers.

“This increase comes in the middle of the already increasing prices of various essentials of daily life. Thousands of migrant workers have already left cities and towns and gone back to their villages due to the shortage of gas cylinders and their increased prices. Now with this harsh increase, more numbers will be forced to head back home.”

This has been the second increase in the prices of commercial cylinders during the Modi government in the past two months. “Exposing its anti-poor bias, the government refuses to forego revenue from taxes on cylinders, which could have provided a cushion to the common man.”

The Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) demands the immediate withdrawal of the hike in the prices of LPG cylinders. It calls upon its units in the country to organize protests against this.